tilt at windmills

phrase

British
: to use time and energy to attack an enemy or problem that is not real or important

Examples of tilt at windmills in a Sentence

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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.
The good news is, while the antivaxxers tilt at windmills, there are scientists out there trying to find out the roots of autism. — Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 7 Dec. 2010

Rhymes for tilt at windmills

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tilt at
tilt at windmills
tiltboard
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Cite this Entry

“Tilt at windmills.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tilt%20at%20windmills. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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