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flippantly

flippantly

3 8.0
In a way that shows little respect and treats things lightly
  • adverb
  • /ˈflɪpəntli/
translation icon : frivolamente
  • During the serious meeting, he flippantly joked about the situation, making everyone uncomfortable.

If my dad, you know, could see this almost flippantly, it probably went past my ally Ambrose.

Examples

  • Yose responded flippantly, "Well, why not?"

    Academic text (2001)
  • One can pose questions idly or flippantly, with no plan for coherent inquiry into nature.

    Blog text (21)
  • The last days of the human race may be, not to speak at all flippantly, our finest hour.

    Academic text (2000)
  • People throw out this option so flippantly sometimes, without realizing how difficult the process is.

    Blog text (12)
  • One patient flippantly stated that he "would be waiting by the telephone for a drunk driver to have an accident."

    Academic text (1990)
  • Others they tend to treat flippantly.

    Academic text (1996)
  • I said, somewhat flippantly (big mistake), "I would put her in a girls' school."

    Academic text (1995)
  • I did flippantly suggest that the number of FOI requests you get should be another.

    Blog text (15)
  • But we should undertake this risk agonizingly, not flippantly, taking the full measure of what is at stake as we make up our minds.

    Academic text (2007)
  • As key organizational documents, mission statements are not produced flippantly by community college leaders (Vaughan, 1997).

    Academic text (2015)

Synonyms

jokingly
vsflippantly
27 2.0

Said or done as a joke and not meant seriously

is similar but more likely to feel inappropriately disrespectful
rudely
vsflippantly
25 1.3

In a way that is not polite and shows no respect

is milder and often mixes lightness with disrespect instead of blunt rudeness
sarcastically
vsflippantly
20 4.4

In a way that says the opposite to show you do not mean it

can be like that but is often more casually disrespectful than sharp
tongue-in-cheek
vsflippantly
  • Informal
15 7.4

Said jokingly and not meant to be taken seriously

shares insincerity but more often seems disrespectful or inappropriate
mockingly
vsflippantly
9 5.6

In a way that makes fun of someone to show you do not respect them

is less direct in ridicule and more about careless lightness
dismissively
vsflippantly
6 5.5

In a way that shows you think something is not important

is lighter, often dismissing with thoughtless or inappropriate humour
derisively
vsflippantly
  • Offensive
6 7.3

In a mocking way that shows you think someone is foolish

is less openly scornful, favouring casual lightness that can offend
disrespectfully
vsflippantly
5 4.4

In a rude way that shows no respect

adds a tone of lightness and inappropriateness to mere disrespect
contemptuously
vsflippantly
4 7.5

In a way that shows you have no respect for someone or something

is less intense, focusing on light inappropriate behaviour rather than deep contempt
scornfully
vsflippantly
4 6.0

In a way that shows strong dislike and disrespect

is lighter and often inappropriate rather than deeply contemptuous
facetiously
vsflippantly
3 8.1

In a joking way that is not meant to be taken seriously

is lighter and often crosses into improper disrespect rather than mere joking
disparagingly
vsflippantly
  • Offensive
3 7.3

In a way that shows you do not respect someone and say bad things about them

is milder and more playful though still lacking proper respect
disdainfully
vsflippantly
3 7.3

With a look or voice that shows strong dislike and no respect

is more playful and casually disrespectful rather than flatly scornful
sardonically
vsflippantly
2 8.4

In a mocking, bitter way that shows strong dislike

is lighter and less bitter, often simply disrespectful without deep mockery
insultingly
vsflippantly
  • Offensive
2 5.9

In a rude way that tries to hurt someone's feelings

is more lightly disrespectful and often playful rather than directly offensive
airily
vsflippantly
1 6.7

In a light, careless way that shows little worry

is similar but more often shows improper lack of respect
cheekily
vsflippantly
  • Informal
1 6.2

In a rude but playful way that shows little respect

is lighter and more careless, not always boldly rude
crassly
vsflippantly
  • Offensive
1 7.8

In a way that shows no care for other people's feelings

is more playful and less about blunt coarse insensitivity
kiddingly
vsflippantly
1 3.6

To say or do something in a joking way without being serious

can be similar but often feels rude or thoughtless rather than harmless
irreverently
vsflippantly
1 7.8

In a way that shows lack of respect for things people take seriously

is similar but often casually light rather than deliberately irreverent
impolitely
vsflippantly
1 4.2

In a rude way that shows little respect for others

is less about manners and more about casual inappropriate lightness
impertinently
vsflippantly
1 7.6

In a rude way that shows no respect for a person in charge

is more lighthearted and often less directly insolent
boorishly
vsflippantly
  • Offensive
1 8.2

In a rude way that shows no respect for others

is less about rough manners and more about light inappropriate joking
jestingly
vsflippantly
6.4

In a joking way that is not serious

leans more toward careless or improper lightness than friendly play
unseriously
vsflippantly
6.2

Speaks or acts in a joking way

adds a tone of disrespectful lightness to that lack of seriousness
slightingly
vsflippantly
9.9

In a way that shows little respect for someone or their work

is lighter and more casual rather than openly scornful
saucily
vsflippantly
  • Informal
7.7

In a bold, playful way that shows little respect

tends to be more lightly dismissive and sometimes inappropriate
uncouthly
vsflippantly
8.8

In a rude, awkward way that shows little politeness

is less clumsy and more casually irreverent or lightly disrespectful
indecorously
vsflippantly
  • Formal
8.7

In a way that shows bad manners

is more about casual lightness than formal breach of decorum
scoffingly
vsflippantly
  • Offensive
8.6

In a rude way that shows you think someone is silly

is less openly derisive, leaning toward careless or inappropriate lightness
contumeliously
vsflippantly
  • Offensive
9.9

In a rude, insulting way that shows clear disrespect

is milder and more lightly disrespectful, not always fully contemptuous

Antonyms

1.6

In a way that shows you mean what you say

101 2.3

In a polite way to someone

How Serious

flippantly
3 8.0
frivolously
3 6.4
lightly
116 1.6
playfully
18 1.4

Surface Forms

flippantly positive

Morphology

flippantly = flippant (transparent) = flip + ant + ly

The adverb is regularly formed from the adjective 'flippant' with the productive suffix '-ly', so its meaning is directly the manner described by 'flippant'.

Etymology

Flippantly comes from the short word flip, which meant 'to turn' or 'move quickly', plus the ending -ly that makes it an adverb. A helpful image is someone 'flipping' their words away without care, so flippantly means saying something lightly and 'without respect'.