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Definition of silliness

silliness

/ˈsɪl.i.nəs/
sil · li · ness
Adverb:sillily
•
Plural:sillinesses
•
Adjective:silly
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silliness Lexical Profile

silliness Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The state or quality of lacking good sense, judgment, or seriousness; lighthearted foolishness or playfulness.

Example

"The teacher smiled at the harmless silliness of the children's costumes during the school play."

2

A foolish, trivial, or playfully absurd act, remark, or idea.

Example

"They spent the evening laughing over the minor sillinesses of their youth."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for silliness

• Nearby Words

sill
sillans falls
sillily
silliness
silly
silo
siloed

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed from the adjective 'silly' and the suffix '-ness'. The root 'silly' derives from Old English 'gesælig', meaning 'happy' or 'blessed', which gradually shifted through 'innocent' and 'helpless' to 'foolish'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Silliness. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/silliness
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