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
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Recent Examples of trifle
Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2025
In other words, a trifle: easy to digest, easy to forget.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 31 July 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
Place one-third (about 2 1/2 cups) of the banana bread in the bottom of a large (3-quart) trifle dish.
—Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2025
In other words, a trifle: easy to digest, easy to forget.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 31 July 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
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My memoir was built of gaps, juxtaposition, weird little nothings.—
Cheri Lucas Rowlands,
Longreads,
16 Dec. 2024
-
But nothings more peaceful than tomorrow to a man going through pain today.—
Becca Longmire,
Peoplemag,
22 Feb. 2024
Verb
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The broadcast networks, which have long been flirting with getting out of the linear business, might then accelerate such plans.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Creative projects could turn into profitable side hustles, and flirting over your go-to bedding styles never felt so good.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Almost two full years later, on the verge of making the postseason, the Padres returned to the ballpark that is home to one of baseball’s worst teams and continued to play like a team that seems bent on disappointing in its own spectacular way.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Sep. 2025
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Yet, Ruud just kept right on playing good defense — racing around Laver Cup’s black hardcourt — and somehow managing to return serves that reached 130 mph.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The token slivers of human-interest drama (a divorce battle, a visit to the pediatrician) that are meant to counterpoint the possibility of Armageddon with the oh-so-ironic triviality of quotidian concerns.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
2 Sep. 2025
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Both aspired to some kind of soulful, intellectual seriousness at a moment when their work was pulling them toward mass appeal and triviality.—
Liz McNeil,
People.com,
16 July 2025
Verb
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That someone with the district attorney’s office would doodle the Nazi symbol on the case file of a Black man accused of rape in the early 1980s raises significant concerns about the motivations of the prosecution, Reingold said.—
Richard A. Webster,
ProPublica,
25 Aug. 2025
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Try coloring, building with blocks, or doodling beside a younger child.—
Kelsey Mora,
CNBC,
24 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Trifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trifle. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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