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SILLY
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
Irregular inflected forms: sillier , silliest
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A word used for misbehaving children
Example:
don't be a silly
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("silly" is a kind of...):
child; fry; kid; minor; nestling; nipper; shaver; small fry; tiddler; tike; tyke; youngster (a young person of either sex)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Dazed from or as if from repeated blows
Example:
punch-drunk with love
Synonyms:
punch-drunk; silly; slaphappy
Classified under:
Similar:
confused (mentally confused; unable to think with clarity or act intelligently)
Domain usage:
colloquialism (a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Inspiring scornful pity
Example:
how silly an ardent and unsuccessful wooer can be especially if he is getting on in years
Synonyms:
pathetic; ridiculous; silly
Classified under:
Similar:
undignified (lacking dignity)
Derivation:
silliness (a ludicrous folly)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Lacking seriousness; given to frivolity
Example:
silly giggles
Synonyms:
airheaded; dizzy; empty-headed; featherbrained; giddy; light-headed; lightheaded; silly
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
frivolous (not serious in content or attitude or behavior)
Derivation:
silliness (an impulsive scatterbrained manner)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Ludicrous, foolish
Example:
some wacky plan for selling more books
Synonyms:
goofy; silly; wacky; whacky; zany
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
foolish (devoid of good sense or judgment)
Domain usage:
colloquialism (a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech)
Derivation:
silliness (a ludicrous folly)
Context examples:
"I'm such a silly," she said plaintively.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
I thought it a certain silly fastidiousness on my part, but it persisted in spite of me, and I merely shrugged my shoulders in answer.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
It was all very silly, he knew; but therefore the more outrage to his dignity, and his anger waxed and waxed.
(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)
Not at all—I never saw him; but I fancy he is very unlike his brother—silly and a great coxcomb.
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
She is only nursing Mrs Wallis of Marlborough Buildings; a mere pretty, silly, expensive, fashionable woman, I believe; and of course will have nothing to report but of lace and finery.
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)
Here am I upholding the good fame of the learned Duns Scotus against the foolish quibblings and poor silly reasonings of Willie Ockham.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
If you come pestering me any more with your silly talk I’ll set the dog at you.
(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
They are a deep, strong, silent stream, and you are the scum, the bubbles, the poor, silly froth that floats upon the surface.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
"Don't be silly," Theresa interjected.
(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)
I remember, before the dwarf left the queen, he followed us one day into those gardens, and my nurse having set me down, he and I being close together, near some dwarf apple trees, I must needs show my wit, by a silly allusion between him and the trees, which happens to hold in their language as it does in ours.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
