1
: something of little value, substance, or importance
2
: a dessert typically consisting of plain or sponge cake often soaked with wine or spirits (such as brandy or rum) and topped with layers of preserves, custard, and cream
trifled; trifling
ˈtrī-f(ə-)liŋ 
1
a
: to treat someone or something as unimportant
b
: to talk in a jesting or mocking manner or with intent to delude or mislead
2
: to handle something idly
Synonyms
Examples of trifle in a Sentence
Noun
There's no reason to argue over such trifles.
The money is a mere trifle to me.
Verb
do not trifle with me unless you mean to ask me to marry you
spent a lazy afternoon trifling on the front porch
Recent Examples on the Web
Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Jan. 2024
But those are mere trifles compared with this duo of ‘70s filmic artifacts that possess the singularly lofty ambition to be truly baffling.
—Stephen Deusner, SPIN, 22 Jan. 2024
All of the lower 48 U.S. states could see the moon at least clip the sun, but that sight is a trifle compared to being in the path of totality.
—Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2024
Simply cube angel food cake and pile it into a glass trifle bowl with layers of fresh fruit and creamy Greek yogurt.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Feb. 2024
Running only 84 minutes long and stuffed with chaotic plot twists, Drive-Away Dolls is a perfect winter trifle, sneaking onto screens still clogged with self-serious Oscar contenders.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2024
Forgive us for going perhaps a trifle overboard in terms of attention, but this isn't just a bunch of inordinately large men leaning on each other while some smaller guys scurry around them.
—Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 23 Jan. 2024
The film takes place almost exclusively in the same suite of rooms, like a stage farce, and the brief run time makes this a pleasant if inconsequential trifle.
—Danny Horn, EW.com, 4 Jan. 2024
Break out your prettiest trifle dish No holiday spread is complete without at least one dessert on the table, and in the South, that dish is likely a trifle.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2023
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
The most vivid example: when a trifling husband (played by Michael Oloyede) asked God to strike him down in an obvious lie to his wife (Nana Mensah).
—Elisabeth Vincentelli, New York Times, 4 Dec. 2023
Pictorial imagery catches us unawares because, as intellectuals, we are trained to analyze text and to treat drawings or photographs as trifling adjuncts.
—Stephen Jay Gould, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
Pitt trifled away millions of Chateau Miraval’s dollars on vanity projects at the estate to ensure that the previously highly profitable wine label did not make Jolie and Nouvel any money, according to their complaint.
—Rachel Shin, Fortune, 11 July 2023
But others, in my experience, have just been trifling.
—Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 14 June 2023
The everyday cadences of the film, the trifling conversations about flowers and kids and neighbors and hand-me-down clothes and where to live, are clearly meant to be relatable.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 22 May 2023
Throughout the book, matters of politics or patriotism are steamrolled by corporations, which (like the rocket) transcend nations and their trifling differences.
—John Semley, WIRED, 16 Feb. 2023
Noun
Use any scraps to create layered brownie trifles. 21 of 21
Strawberry Cheesecake Bites
View Recipe
To make this Valentine's Day dessert, decorate squares of vanilla cheesecake with slices of strawberries that have been cut into a heart shape.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Jan. 2024
But those are mere trifles compared with this duo of ‘70s filmic artifacts that possess the singularly lofty ambition to be truly baffling.
—Stephen Deusner, SPIN, 22 Jan. 2024
All of the lower 48 U.S. states could see the moon at least clip the sun, but that sight is a trifle compared to being in the path of totality.
—Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2024
Simply cube angel food cake and pile it into a glass trifle bowl with layers of fresh fruit and creamy Greek yogurt.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Feb. 2024
Running only 84 minutes long and stuffed with chaotic plot twists, Drive-Away Dolls is a perfect winter trifle, sneaking onto screens still clogged with self-serious Oscar contenders.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2024
Forgive us for going perhaps a trifle overboard in terms of attention, but this isn't just a bunch of inordinately large men leaning on each other while some smaller guys scurry around them.
—Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 23 Jan. 2024
The film takes place almost exclusively in the same suite of rooms, like a stage farce, and the brief run time makes this a pleasant if inconsequential trifle.
—Danny Horn, EW.com, 4 Jan. 2024
Break out your prettiest trifle dish No holiday spread is complete without at least one dessert on the table, and in the South, that dish is likely a trifle.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2023
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
The most vivid example: when a trifling husband (played by Michael Oloyede) asked God to strike him down in an obvious lie to his wife (Nana Mensah).
—Elisabeth Vincentelli, New York Times, 4 Dec. 2023
Pictorial imagery catches us unawares because, as intellectuals, we are trained to analyze text and to treat drawings or photographs as trifling adjuncts.
—Stephen Jay Gould, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
Pitt trifled away millions of Chateau Miraval’s dollars on vanity projects at the estate to ensure that the previously highly profitable wine label did not make Jolie and Nouvel any money, according to their complaint.
—Rachel Shin, Fortune, 11 July 2023
But others, in my experience, have just been trifling.
—Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 14 June 2023
The everyday cadences of the film, the trifling conversations about flowers and kids and neighbors and hand-me-down clothes and where to live, are clearly meant to be relatable.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 22 May 2023
Throughout the book, matters of politics or patriotism are steamrolled by corporations, which (like the rocket) transcend nations and their trifling differences.
—John Semley, WIRED, 16 Feb. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trifle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Dictionary Entries Near trifle
Cite this Entry
“Trifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trifle. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
trifle
1 of 2 noun
tri·fle
ˈtrī-fəl
1
: something of little value or importance
2
: a dessert of sponge cake spread with jam or jelly covered with a custard and whipped cream
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