as in nothing
something of little importance
let us not speak of trifles when our nation may be going to war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to flirt
to show a sexual attraction for someone just for fun
do not trifle with me unless you mean to ask me to marry you
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to play
to spend time in aimless activity
spent a lazy afternoon trifling on the front porch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of trifle
Tim Grierson, Vulture, 24 Jan. 2025
Get The Recipe 09 of 12 Vanilla Chiffon Trifle
Some say trifles look so impressive sitting on the buffet.
—Patricia S York, Southern Living, 2 Feb. 2025
Rory Smith, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2024
In the event, however, the Biden Justice Department prosecuted hundreds of people on trifling misdemeanor offenses that would never have been charged in normal cases untainted by partisan politics.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 9 Dec. 2023
See All Example Sentences for trifle
Noun
This is mostly an odd trifle that, frankly, both of Streep and Soderbergh are better than.
27.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 24 Jan. 2025
Get The Recipe 09 of 12 Vanilla Chiffon Trifle
Some say trifles look so impressive sitting on the buffet.
—Patricia S York, Southern Living, 2 Feb. 2025
Verb
Arsenal might be informed that things could have ended differently had Arteta spent a trifling $120 million on a striker in January.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2024
In the event, however, the Biden Justice Department prosecuted hundreds of people on trifling misdemeanor offenses that would never have been charged in normal cases untainted by partisan politics.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 9 Dec. 2023
See All Example Sentences for trifle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trifle
Noun
-
My memoir was built of gaps, juxtaposition, weird little nothings.—
Cheri Lucas Rowlands,
Longreads,
16 Dec. 2024
-
The one whose legs turned nothings into somethings, improvising the Lions’ entire defensive game plan into a pile of ash?—
Sean Keeler,
The Denver Post,
10 Feb. 2024
Verb
-
Many White Lotus fans got an increasingly queasy feeling watching the siblings flirt with the boundaries of what is appropriate throughout the first half of Season 3.—
Eliana Dockterman,
TIME,
24 Mar. 2025
-
After suffering two embarrassing losses to bottom-four teams each conference, the Knicks flirted with losing a third, blowing a substantial lead against the 15-win Wizards before pulling away with a 122-103 victory at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
23 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Whitaker is played by Gerran Howell, who carried the title role on the CBBC's Young Dracula (2006–2014) before appearing on NBC's Emerald City (2017) and Hulu's adaptation of Joseph Heller's Catch-22 (2019).—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
11 Apr. 2025
-
The trio finished with a 4-1 lead in shots and 10 hits between them while playing predominantly against the Stars’ second and fourth lines.—
Murat Ates,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
As a society navigating the choppy waters of quick-draw feuds and biting vitriol—no matter the triviality or seriousness of the topic in question—we are often cowered into joining the chorus versus belting out a solo for fear of being singled out.—
Christina L. Sgro,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
-
In other words, no drugs, alcohol abuse, tardiness, triviality, egocentricity.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
For people who are just reading or doodling or watching TV, or for a kid who needs something basic but reliable for games and school and chatting?—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
14 Mar. 2025
-
Martin doodled on a yellow canvas, drawing women’s faces in an abstract style.—
Hikmat Mohammed,
WWD,
7 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Trifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trifle. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share