silly (ˈsɪlɪ
)
Definitions
adjective
- lacking in good sense; absurd
- frivolous, trivial, or superficial
- feeble-minded
- dazed, as from a blow
- obsolete homely or humble
noun
- (modifier) cricket (of a fielding position) near the batsman's wicket ⇒
silly mid-on
- Also called
silly-billy informal a foolish person
Alternative Forms
ˈsilliness nounWord Origin
C15 (in the sense: pitiable, hence the later senses: foolish): from Old English sǣlig (unattested) happy, from sǣl happiness; related to Gothic sēls goodSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
stupid,
ridiculous,
absurd,
daft,
inane,
childish,
immature,
senseless,
frivolous,
preposterous,
giddy,
goofy,
idiotic,
dozy,
fatuous,
witless,
puerile,
brainless,
asinine,
dumb-ass,
cockamamie,
dopy,
Translations
- British English:
silly
Someone who is being silly is behaving in a foolish or childish way.She thinks that I am being silly.ˈsɪlɪ ADJECTIVE She thinks that I am being silly.
- Spanish:
tonto
adj tonta
- French:
bête
adj
- German:
albern
adj
- Chinese: 愚蠢的 adj
- Arabic: أَبْلَه adj
- Portuguese: bobo adj boba
- Russian: глупый adj глупая
- Croatian: šašav adj šašava
- Czech: hloupý adj
- Danish: dum adj
- Dutch: dwaas adj
- Finnish: tyhmä adj
- Greek: χαζός adj χαζή
- Italian: sciocco adj sciocca
- Japanese: 愚かな no_posp
- Korean: 어리석은 adj
- Norwegian: tøysete adj
- Polish: głupi adj głupia
- Brazilian Portuguese: bobo adj boba
- European Spanish:
tonto
adj tonta
- Swedish: fånig adj fånigt
- Thai: โง่ adj
- Turkish: aptalca adj
- Vietnamese: ngớ ngẩn adj
Usage examples
Not the sort to sulk forever and ever over some silly mistake.
, SEX (2001)These big city types will pay silly money to move to the countryside, damn their eyes.
Country Life (2004)It would mean that the sensible are carrying the can for the silly.
Globe and Mail (2003)'Unfortunately, it all sort of got really silly ,' she said.
Glasgow Herald (2001)This wasn't like his father, not the pompous, rather silly Cedric Fallow.
, THE TURN OF THE TIDE (2004)