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silly

silly

2 7.4
A child who acts in a foolish or playful way
  • noun
  • /ˈsɪli/
  • Informal
translation icon : travieso
  • Someone that's silly, someone that's fun, and someone who will drink and dance with me.

Examples

  • The children were being a bit silly as they played tag in the park.

  • My little brother can be quite silly when he tells jokes at the family dinner.

  • For the most part, people like me, silly, silly Russian kids like me with a dream.

  • Hey, I am your silly uncle.

  • Yeah, silly boy in my bottle suit.

  • That is just a silly, silly notion.

  • You big sillies!

  • Brent, tell these sillies that girls don't fart.

  • After a long day, she enjoyed watching her friends act silly at the party.

Synonyms

monkey
vssilly
  • Informal
339 4.1

A playful child who likes to play tricks

describes ordinary childish foolish behaviour rather than playful mischief
doof
vssilly
  • Offensive
2 9.9

A person who acts in a silly or foolish way

is used for a child acting foolishly rather than a general insult
stupidhead
vssilly
  • Offensive
1 9.5

A childish name used to call someone silly

is a neutral description of childish behaviour, not an insult
dumdum
vssilly
  • Offensive
1 8.8

A person who acts in a silly or foolish way

is used for a child behaving foolishly rather than any person
stupid-head
vssilly
  • Offensive
1 9.1

A playful insult for a person who acts silly

is a neutral description of a child rather than a direct insult
twitty
vssilly
  • Informal
1 9.9

A person who behaves in a silly, playful way

is used for a child acting foolishly rather than any person
bubble-head
vssilly
  • Offensive
1 9.5

A person who is silly and not serious

is used for a child being foolish rather than a general label
cheese monkey
vssilly
  • Slang
9.9

A person who acts silly and playful

is a neutral description of a child behaving foolishly rather than a joking name
barney
vssilly
  • Offensive
8.8

A person who behaves in a silly or foolish way

is used for a child acting foolishly rather than for adults generally
divvy
vssilly
  • Offensive
9.9

A foolish person who makes simple mistakes

is a neutral term for a child behaving foolishly rather than regional slang
McStupid
vssilly
  • Offensive
9.9

A rude slang name for someone who acts foolish or makes silly mistakes

is a general description for a child acting foolishly rather than mocking slang
fribble
vssilly
  • Archaic
9.9

A silly person who does not act seriously

is about a child acting foolishly rather than general frivolous behaviour

Antonyms

973 2.4

In charge of someone or something and must take care of it

452 1.4

Calm and focused, not playful or joking

Idioms

silly me
  • Informal
1 8.3

To show mild embarrassment after you make a small mistake

1 9.9

Act in a foolish, annoying way instead of being serious

To suddenly behave in a silly way that other people find odd

Compounds

2 2.8

A hat worn for fun, often at parties

silly season
  • Literature
1 6.5

A late summer time when newspapers and TV run silly, unimportant stories

How Mischievous

naughty
145 1.0
mischievous
19 3.5
silly
  • Informal
2 7.4
impish
6 6.1
playful
79 1.6

Surface Forms

silly singular
sillies plural

Etymology

Silly as a noun (a child who is behaving foolishly) simply comes from the adjective that moved from 'innocent' to 'foolish', so calling someone 'a silly' is a light, often playful way to say they are acting like a harmless fool.