as in nothing
something of little importance
let us not speak of trifles when our nation may be going to war
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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
Diana Pearl, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025
High Horse uses the erasure (and slow restoration) of the Black cowboy in the cultural narrative as a set-up for a second episode that’s far more pointed and responds directly to anybody who might be tempted to think that, as a concern, this is just a trifle.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 20 Nov. 2025
Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
Strawberries are delicious in cobblers, trifles, and crisps.
—Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trifle
Noun
However, the most memorable part of this revelatory episode was Rachel's attempt at dessert, which resulted in her making half an English trifle and half a Shepherd's pie.
—Diana Pearl, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025
High Horse uses the erasure (and slow restoration) of the Black cowboy in the cultural narrative as a set-up for a second episode that’s far more pointed and responds directly to anybody who might be tempted to think that, as a concern, this is just a trifle.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 20 Nov. 2025
Verb
But those trifling problems aren’t for Jane to worry about.
—Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
Strawberries are delicious in cobblers, trifles, and crisps.
—Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trifle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trifle
Noun
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When Dana, who, like Virginia, had been successful in writing pleasant but undistinguished nothings—in her case, songs for Billy Rose’s revues—decided to try taking on more serious music by studying with Boulanger, Virginia entered a deep downward spiral.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
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Why did her mom press so hard for the littlest of nothings?—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
4 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Then their subject starts to flirt with the idea of disengaging and moving to a like-minded nudist community, even relocating for a few days to test the new setup out.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
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Some participants go home with a new connection, and others flirt a little and then buy some books, Clark Delgado says.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Before playing in the last four games, Reaves had missed the previous 19 with his calf injury.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
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Maldonado invited Jaquez to play, and after losing, Jaquez bought Maldonado drinks and returned to his friend group, according to the affidavit.—
Elissa Jorgensen,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Any piece of art begins in triviality.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
13 Feb. 2026
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But with an opportunity to add a player such as Giannis, such triviality can be left for another day (or by the Heat shaving another salary at the deadline).—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Most recently, the toddler doodled on her mother's $60,000 Hermès purse.—
Emma Banks,
InStyle,
8 Feb. 2026
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As always with Gibney’s docs, there’s an abundance of archival material, covering records of Rushdie’s life but also doodling animation, images and film clips that provide a visual correlation to the subject’s thoughts.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trifle. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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