If you describe a person or what they say as flippant, you are criticizing them because you think they are not taking something as seriously as they should.
[disapproval]
Don't be flippant, damn it! This is serious!
He now dismisses that as a flippant comment.
Synonyms: frivolous, rude, cheeky, irreverent More Synonyms of flippant
flippancyuncountable noun
She detected flippancy in his tone, and said, 'I wish you'd take this seriously'.
Synonyms: frivolity, cheek [informal], irreverence, impertinence More Synonyms of flippant
flippantlygraded adverb [ADVERB with verb]
He answered carelessly and flippantly.
flippant in British English
(ˈflɪpənt)
adjective
1.
marked by inappropriate levity; frivolous or offhand
2.
impertinent; saucy
3. obsolete
talkative or nimble
Derived forms
flippancy (ˈflippancy)
noun
flippantly (ˈflippantly)
adverb
Word origin
C17: perhaps from flip
flippant in American English
(ˈflɪpənt)
adjective
1. Obsolete
glib; talkative
2.
frivolous and disrespectful; saucy; impertinent
Derived forms
flippantly (ˈflippantly)
adverb
Word origin
Early ModE, nimble, prob. < flip1
Examples of 'flippant' in a sentence
flippant
He is a real character but he is prone to making flippant comments.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The tone ranged from flippant to furious.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
You can look beyond surface appearances and see a flippant manner hides a sincere heart.
The Sun (2008)
It was appalling to watch him released in such a flippant manner.
The Sun (2009)
Sounds like such a flippant comment.
Christianity Today (2000)
If you look at it in a reciprocal way, this is a comment that was flippant when it was said but it has gone in there.
The Sun (2013)
A contemporary's flippant comment as to why he did not learn to command a submarine is best left to the imagination.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
(adjective)
Definition
treating serious matters with inappropriate light-heartedness or lack of respect
She dismissed it as a flippant comment.
Synonyms
frivolous
I was a bit too frivolous to be a doctor.
rude
He's rude to her friends.
cheeky
They sat making cheeky comments about passers-by.
irreverent
She's irreverent, fun and hugely popular.
flip (informal)
superficial
a superficial yuppie with no intellect whatsoever
saucy
a saucy joke
glib
pert
pert questions
disrespectful
People shouldn't treat each other in this disrespectful way.
offhand
Consumers found the attitude of its staff offhand.
impertinent
I don't like strangers who ask impertinent questions.
impudent
Some were well behaved, while others were impudent.
Opposites
serious
,
mannerly
,
polite
,
sincere
,
gracious
,
respectful
,
solicitous
,
well-mannered
Additional synonyms
in the sense of cheeky
Definition
disrespectful
They sat making cheeky comments about passers-by.
Synonyms
impudent,
rude,
forward,
fresh (informal),
insulting,
saucy,
audacious,
sassy (informal),
pert,
disrespectful,
impertinent,
insolent,
lippy (slang)
in the sense of disrespectful
People shouldn't treat each other in this disrespectful way.
Synonyms
contemptuous,
insulting,
rude,
cheeky,
irreverent,
bad-mannered,
impertinent,
insolent,
impolite,
impudent,
discourteous,
uncivil
in the sense of impertinent
Definition
disrespectful or rude
I don't like strangers who ask impertinent questions.