Frivolous
mediumNegative toneFRIV-uh-lus
adjective
Definition
Lacking seriousness or importance; trivial or unworthy of consideration
Memory hook
FRIV-OLOUS: FRIVOL away time on trivial things — lacking any seriousness.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“The judge dismissed the lawsuit as frivolous because it had no legal merit.”
“She spent her inheritance on frivolous purchases instead of investing in her future.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The judge dismissed the lawsuit as ______ because it had no legal merit.”
Show answer
frivolous
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Frivolous is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "trivial" or "trifling" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "serious".
Related GRE Words
facetious
treating serious matters with inappropriate or flippant humor
cursory
Hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed
effrontery
shameless or insolent boldness
inconsequential
of little importance; trivial
paltry
Small or meager; of little value or importance
averse
Having a strong dislike or opposition to something
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