figurative. Deficient in substance or quality; poor; unsubstantial. Of immaterial things: Wanting in fulness, breadth, force, or vigour; scanty…

figurative. Of an effect produced on (or sometimes by) a person's intellect, emotions, or personality: having little impact or influence; slight…

Of a quality, condition, action, or practice: of little importance or consequence; insubstantial, trivial.

Of words, tales, answers, etc.: Futile, feeble; giving no information or satisfaction; irrelevant, trifling. Obsolete.

Of little or no weight, value, or importance; paltry, trumpery; not worthy of serious attention; having no reasonable ground or purpose.

figurative. Vain, empty, unsubstantial, trifling. Also, of a person: Having no depth of character, conviction, knowledge, etc.; shallow.

Having ‘nothing in it’, ‘airy’, intangible, empty, unsubstantial, flimsy, vain, frivolous, trifling, worthless. (Often passing into other senses; see…

figurative. Of persons and their attributes: Wanting in depth of mind, feeling, or character.

depreciative. Like air in its (apparently) intangible or empty character. Insubstantial; imaginary; slight, inconsequential.

Having no soul, spirit, or animating principle; dead, inert. Often in extended use (esp. in the 17th cent.), typically designating something viewed…

transferred and figurative. Slight, flimsy, unsubstantial.

figurative. = tenuous, adj. 3.

figurative. Feeble or poor in quality or character; trifling, unsubstantial, trashy, ‘milk-and-watery’. †Also rarely as int. = pish! tush!

Of the nature of, or resembling, gauze.

Consisting of or covered with, or as with, lather. Also of a horse: Covered with foam. Chiefly figurative, ‘frothy’, unsubstantial.

= wishy-washy, adj.

figurative. Slender, of slight importance or significance; meagre, weak; flimsy, vague, unsubstantial.

figurative. Chiefly depreciative. As a modifier, designating a thing which is small, flimsy, inferior, or of little importance, as if designed…

With reference to mental or moral attributes: Frivolous, trifling, superficial.

In pejorative sense: insubstantial; superficial; impractical and foolishly idealistic.

depreciative. Esp. of an explanation, doctrine, etc.: superficial, simplistic, glib; without depth.

Somewhat feeble.

figurative. Lightweight, superficial; spec. (of a film) undemanding, entertaining.