frivolous
/ˈfɹɪv.ə.ləs/ adjective
- adjective Silly, especially at an inappropriate time or in an inappropriate manner; lacking a good reason for being, or for doing what one does; due to or moved by a caprice or whim. “trifling ((literary)”
- adjective Of little weight or importance; not worth notice; slight; trivial.
- adjective (law, said of a lawsuit) Having no reasonable prospect of success because its claim is without merit, lacking a supporting legal or factual basis, while the filing party is, or should be, aware of this.
Synonyms
base contemptible floccinaucinihilipilificatious foolish for the birds futile idle ignorable immaterial inconsequential inconsiderable indifferent insignificant like a fart in a windstorm meager mean minor miserable negligible nothingburger
Antonyms
Etymology
From Latin frīvolus (“silly, empty, trifling, frivolous, worthless”), with the ending modified to match -ous.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Of little weight or importance; not worth notice; slight; as, a frivolous argument. Swift.
- adjective Given to trifling; marked with unbecoming levity; silly; interested especially in trifling matters.
Etymology [L. frivolus; prob. akin to friare to rub, crumble, E. friable: cf. F. frivole.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “frivolous”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details