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dippy

dippy

4 8.2
Being silly and a little strange in a friendly way
  • adjective
  • /ˈdɪpi/
  • Informal
: tonto
  • The children's dippy antics at the party kept everyone entertained.
  • hippy-dippy
  • hippie-dippy
  • dippy weatherman

And that sounds hippie dippy, but some thoughts feel easy.

Examples

  • Oddly enough, that distinction belonged to Mrs. McBride, Mr. Archy's imperious but dippy wife.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Oh, but, Mum, can't you see they've gone completely dippy about each other?

  • We're supposed to go to some dippy dinner with my parents.

  • Every week - same dippy little look on her face.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Surely it was a dippy notion; in two weeks or so she'd have found another project, another passion.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Don't be so dippy.

  • "Donnato interrupts," Jayne Mason is another dippy actress and, believe me, Galloway would never roll over for a pretty face.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • You think of the fairy tales your mother read to you when you were small: Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, and the rest of their dippy, flaxen-haired sisters.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • He's all dippy knees, flappy elbows and floppy wrists.

  • She always has a dippy grin on her face that makes everyone smile.

Synonyms

goofy
vsdippy
  • Informal
122 3.5

Silly in a funny, slightly foolish way

is more about eccentric unclear-headedness than pure absurd silliness
dorky
vsdippy
  • Informal
35 7.7

Awkward and not fashionable in a slightly silly way

is more about odd unclear-headed behavior than merely social awkwardness
dopey
vsdippy
  • Offensive
30 6.7

Not very smart and likely to act in a silly way

is more about harmless odd silliness than direct stupidity
daft
vsdippy
  • Informal
26 5.8

Silly in a way that is slightly funny

is more about eccentric or unclear-minded behavior than simple lack of sense
zany
vsdippy
14 7.6

Funny and odd in a silly way that makes people laugh

leans more toward unclear-headed silliness than deliberate eccentric show
daffy
vsdippy
  • Informal
10 8.4

Acting silly and slightly crazy in a harmless way

is more about odd or unclear thinking than full craziness
wiggy
vsdippy
  • Slang
5 9.3

Strange and amusing in how a person or thing looks and acts

is more about unclear-headed or silly behavior than merely odd appearance
ditzy
vsdippy
  • Informal
5 8.2

Silly and a little forgetful in a friendly way

is more about eccentric or unclear-headed manner than charming scatterbrainedness
clownish
vsdippy
4 4.5

Acting in a silly, exaggerated way like a clown

is more about simple oddness or unclear thinking than performative comedy
barmy
vsdippy
  • UK
4 8.2

Being silly and slightly crazy in a way that seems funny and harmless

is more about eccentric or unclear-headed behavior than deep insanity
ditsy
vsdippy
  • Informal
2 7.2

Being silly and forgetful but not serious

leans toward eccentric or unclear-headed conduct rather than mere innocence
goony
vsdippy
  • Informal
1 8.9

Silly and awkward in a clumsy, funny way

is more about eccentric or unclear-headed behavior than clumsy awkwardness
airheaded
vsdippy
  • Offensive
1 7.9

Not thinking carefully and often acting silly

is more about odd harmless eccentricity than clear lack of intelligence
dopy
vsdippy
  • Offensive
1 7.2

Silly and slow to understand things

is more about quirky eccentric or unclear-headed behavior than intelligence deficit
chumpy
vsdippy
  • Informal
1 8.9

A little silly in a harmless, often funny way

is more about eccentric or unclear-minded actions than just harmless foolishness
dappy
vsdippy
  • UK
1 9.9

Feeling silly and cheerful in a light, slightly confused way

is more about odd or unclear-minded behavior than cheerful silliness
featherbrained
vsdippy
  • Offensive
1 8.3

Not serious and likely to make bad choices

is more about harmless eccentricity than lack of judgment
light-headed
vsdippy
  • Informal
1 5.0

Being silly and not serious in behavior

is more about odd or unclear-headed behavior than fleeting giddiness
dipsey
vsdippy
  • Informal
9.9

Acting silly and a little forgetful or confused

puts more emphasis on eccentric or unclear-minded traits than mere foolishness
a bit loony
vsdippy
  • Offensive
8.9

A little strange and silly

is more about harmless eccentric silliness than real unbalance

Antonyms

∞ 1.4

Calm and focused, not playful or joking

185 2.7

Showing good judgment and making practical choices

How Silly

crazy
  • Slur
53 7.2
silly
944 1.0
dippy
  • Informal
4 8.2
daft
  • Informal
26 5.8

Surface Forms

dippy positive
dippier comparative
dippiest superlative

Morphology

dippy = dip (opaque) = dip + y

Although formed from 'dip' + '-y', the meaning 'silly' is an idiomatic/figurative extension not predictable from the literal sense of 'dip'.

Etymology

Dippy (silly) is often remembered by its sound: it is like dopey, which means 'not clear-headed' or a little slow. So, thinking of someone as dippy helps you remember they act a bit silly or absent-minded.