Meaning & use

flippantly

adverb·Advanced

In a way that shows a lack of proper seriousness or respect toward something important.

See it in a sentence

He answered the judge's question so flippantly that she warned him about contempt of court.

She flippantly dismissed her doctor's advice and kept right on smoking.

A note on using this word

Flippantly carries a critical tone, suggesting the speaker treats a serious matter with disrespectful humor or carelessness.

Words with a similar meaning

casuallyglibly

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

seriouslyearnestly

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