frilled; frilling; frills
: to provide or decorate with a frill
1
a
: a gathered, pleated, or bias-cut fabric edging used on clothing
b
: a strip of paper curled at one end and rolled to be slipped over the bone end (as of a chop) in serving
2
: a ruff of hair or feathers or a bony or cartilaginous projection about the neck of an animal
3
a
: affectation, air
—usually used in plural
intellectual frills and fustian—
Joseph Epstein
Joseph Epstein
b
: something decorative or useful and desirable but not essential : luxury
Synonyms
Examples of frill in a Sentence
Noun
The dress had frills around the hem and sleeves.
He likes plain food without any frills.
Recent Examples on the Web
Michael Snyder Pedro Kok, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024
The collection, which will surely be talked about as the best of the entire week, was an unflinching reminder that a serious depth of femininity — the frilled, bedazzled, artistic kind — should never be mistaken for weakness.
—Gabrielle Korn, refinery29.com, 13 Feb. 2020
Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune Europe, 28 Sep. 2024
Chevrolet has given consumers the opportunity to purchase a competent, long-range EV with no frills at an unbeatable price, with cash-on-the-hood from Uncle Sam sweetening the pot ever further.
—Peter Douglas, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for frill 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
Today, that plant is one of thousands on the grounds, a place where monarch ferns frill around the auburn necks of melinonii philodendrons and buttercream and magenta orchids hang like pendants from a jabuticabeira, its spreading copper limbs blistered with purple fruit.
—Michael Snyder Pedro Kok, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024
The collection, which will surely be talked about as the best of the entire week, was an unflinching reminder that a serious depth of femininity — the frilled, bedazzled, artistic kind — should never be mistaken for weakness.
—Gabrielle Korn, refinery29.com, 13 Feb. 2020
Noun
Traveling to Europe from the US just got cheaper—if passengers are willing to forgo all frills and travel light.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune Europe, 28 Sep. 2024
Chevrolet has given consumers the opportunity to purchase a competent, long-range EV with no frills at an unbeatable price, with cash-on-the-hood from Uncle Sam sweetening the pot ever further.
—Peter Douglas, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for frill
Dictionary Entries Near frill
Cite this Entry
“Frill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frill. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share