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flippantly

When you say something in an inappropriately casual way, you do it flippantly. Try to avoid talking flippantly about ghosts and monsters around your young cousin, who is terrified of spooky creatures.

It's usually fine to be casual, but when you talk or act flippantly, you're likely to offend someone. The word implies a lack of seriousness or respect, so if you speak flippantly to your teacher — answering a question with a snarky "Whatever!" for example — you might just get yourself in trouble. Flippantly comes from the adjective flippant, originally a positive attribute; in the 16th century it meant "limber or nimble."

Definitions of flippantly
  1. adverb
    in a flippant manner
    “he answered the reporters' questions flippantly
    synonyms: airily
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘flippantly'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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