silly in English dictionary

  • silly

    Meanings and definitions of "silly"

    • (obsolete) Pitiable; deserving of compassion; helpless.
    • (obsolete) Simple, unsophisticated, ordinary; rustic, ignorant.
    • foolish, showing a lack of good sense and wisdom; frivolous, trifling.
    • irresponsible, showing irresponsible behaviors.
    • playful, giggly.
    • semiconscious, witless.
    • (cricket) of a fielding position, very close to the batsman; closer than short
    • (pejorative) simple, not intelligent, refined.
    • (colloquial) A silly person; a fool.
    • (colloquial) A mistake.
    • adjective
      (chiefly Scotland, obsolete)
      Blessed, particularly:
    • adjective
      (now chiefly Scotland and Northern England, rare)
      Pitiful, inspiring compassion, particularly:
    • adjective
      (now rural Britain, rare)
      Simple, plain, particularly:
    • adjective
      Mentally simple, foolish, particularly:
    • adjective
      Laughable or amusing through foolishness or a foolish appearance.
    • adjective
      (cricket, of a fielding position)
      Very close to the batsman, facing the bowler; closer than short.
    • adverb
      (now regional or colloquial)
      Sillily: in a silly manner.
    • noun
      (with 'the')
      The class of silly people collectively.
    • noun
      (colloquial)
      A silly person.
    • noun
      (affectionate, gently pejorative)
      A term of address.
    • noun
      (colloquial)
      A mistake.
    • Lacking in intelligence.
    • Showing a lack of good sense, wisdom or forethought.
    • A state in which a group of people is continuously making silly jokes, that can nevertheless lead to laughing fits as a reaction. Under the right circumstances, the state can maintain itself or be induced in others contageously. The use of weed (Cannabis sativa) promotes the state in some individuals, but it can also be induced by a joke or reference to an (earlier) funny event.
    • foolish, showing a lack of good sense and wisdom
    • irresponsible, showing irresponsible behaviors
    • playful, giggly
    • semiconscious
    • pejorative: simple, not intelligent, refined
    • adjective
      dazed from or as if from repeated blows; "knocked silly by the impact"; "slaphappy with exhaustion"; "punch-drunk with love"
    • adjective
      inspiring scornful pity; "how silly an ardent and unsuccessful wooer can be especially if he is getting on in years"- Dashiell Hammett
    • adjective
      lacking seriousness; given to frivolity; "a dizzy blonde"; "light-headed teenagers"; "silly giggles"
    • adjective
      ludicrous, foolish; "wore a goofy hat"; "a silly idea"; "some wacky plan for selling more books"
    • noun
      a word used for misbehaving children; "don't be a silly"

    Synonyms of "silly" in English dictionary

    lightheaded, nipper, shaver are the top synonyms of "silly" in the English thesaurus.

    Grammar and declension of silly

    • silly ( comparative sillier, superlative silliest)
    • silly, sillier, silliest
    • silly ( plural  sillies)
    • silly (comparative sillier, superlative silliest)
    • silly (plural sillies)
  • Silly

Sample sentences with "silly"