footling 1 of 2

adjective

ˈfü-tᵊl-iŋ How to pronounce footling (audio)
Definition of footlingnext
as in nominal
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention the assistant's job was to shield the president from such footling problems

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

footling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of footle
as in dawdling
to spend time doing nothing spent the morning footling about while others were working

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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 footling
Adjective
By comparison with previous Establishment Clause cases, however, this lawsuit looked footling and rather mean. — Barton Swaim, WSJ, 21 June 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for footling
  1. nominal
  2. dawdling
  3. slight
  4. loafing
  5. piddling
  6. idling
  7. trifling
  8. lounging
Adjective
  • This decision risks a reduction in the price dairy farmers receive for their cull cows and higher profits for foreign beef exporters, all for a potentially nominal decrease in the retail ground beef price.
    — Esme Murphy, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Recent August polling shows the Texas Senate race is a statistical tie, with Talarico holding a slight nominal lead.
    — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of nominal
Verb
  • Indeed, Ederson has moments where he can be caught dawdling with the ball, hoping for an opening that doesn’t always arrive.
    — Carl Anka, New York Times, 5 June 2026
  • Further, there’s no excuse for Congress to continue dawdling on farm policy.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025
Definition of dawdling
Adjective
  • The delicate shape still nods to classic ballet flats, but the slight heel gives everything a little more polish, making the pairing feel less Sunday lunch with your nan and more Copenhagen Fashion Week.
    — Georgia Brown, Glamour, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Early pothole testing actually caused a slight structural bend in a rear swingarm.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of slight
Verb
  • Kids who used to run to the field excited to play, suddenly started loafing to the field wearing their crocs with their heads buried in their phones.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
  • The pair had been loafing for some time among a grove of apple trees on a private residence in Payson.
    — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Definition of loafing
Adjective
  • Then, the pandemic reduced the schedule to 60 games and Eddie got a piddling 37%.
    — Star Tribune, Star Tribune, 3 Dec. 2020
  • Millions of additional claims are expected to stream in from around the country over the coming weeks, while hiring remains piddling.
    — Patricia Cohen, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2020
Definition of piddling
Verb
  • Residents described idling in traffic as roads became jammed with evacuees.
    — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Not only that, unnecessary idling isn’t exactly great for your car’s engine.
    — Molly Burford, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of idling
Adjective
  • In less trifling hands, there’s no telling what these tools could do, are doing now.
    — CHRIS COLIN, Wired News, 18 May 2026
  • Meanwhile, that global temperature record that DiCaprio mentioned in his acceptance speech in 2016 seems almost trifling compared to what has happened since.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Definition of trifling
Verb
  • Most recently, Céline Dion, Lucy Hale, and Sofia Richie Grainge were spotted in matching ensembles for outdoor activities, casual outings, and lounging at home.
    — Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Made with a buttery-soft, lightweight fabric, these comfy pants will make lounging on the couch watching Halloween movies even better thanks to a $25 sale price.
    — Melony Forcier, InStyle, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of lounging

Browse Nearby Words

footlights
footling
footlocker
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Cite this Entry

“Footling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/footling. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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