SILLY (sillier, silliest)
Dictionary entry overview: What does silly mean?
• SILLY (noun)
The noun SILLY has 1 sense:
1. a word used for misbehaving children
Familiarity information: SILLY used as a noun is very rare.
• SILLY (adjective)
The adjective SILLY has 4 senses:
1. ludicrous, foolish
2. lacking seriousness; given to frivolity
3. inspiring scornful pity
4. dazed from or as if from repeated blows
Familiarity information: SILLY used as an adjective is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
• SILLY (noun)
Meaning:
A word used for misbehaving children
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Context example:
don't be a silly
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)
• SILLY (adjective)
Meaning:
Ludicrous, foolish
Synonyms:
whacky; wacky; silly; sappy; goofy; cockamamy; cockamamie; zany
Context examples:
gave me a cockamamie reason for not going / wore a goofy hat / a silly idea / some wacky plan for selling more books
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)
Meaning:
Lacking seriousness; given to frivolity
Synonyms:
airheaded; empty-headed; featherbrained; silly; lightheaded; light-headed; giddy; dizzy
Context examples:
a dizzy blonde / light-headed teenagers / silly giggles
Similar:
frivolous (not serious in content or attitude or behavior)
Meaning:
Inspiring scornful pity
Synonyms:
ridiculous; silly; pathetic
Context example:
how silly an ardent and unsuccessful wooer can be especially if he is getting on in years
Similar:
undignified (lacking dignity)
Meaning:
Dazed from or as if from repeated blows
Synonyms:
punch-drunk; slaphappy; silly
Context examples:
knocked silly by the impact / slaphappy with exhaustion
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)
