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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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
  • For a nominal sum, the paper each day serves up authoritative accounts of sports events that occurred as much as a day earlier, give or take.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The calculation refers to nominal total returns, combining coupon income and changes in the bond's market price.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 3 Sep. 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 slight worry is that Zheng will run out of gas at some point after coming through the qualifying tournament and winning six matches in New York.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • For all their advantages, quantum technologies are extremely sensitive, and these devices can be thrown out of gear by the slightest changes in temperature or environmental noise.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 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
  • The gunshot woke up a neighbor, who the Game Commission said saw the truck idling near where the carcass was found the next morning.
    — Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of idling
Adjective
  • Cut to terra ferma, where the almighty rainstorm soaking the streets of Rome seems a comparatively trifling bit of weather.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 7 Sep. 2026
  • In less trifling hands, there’s no telling what these tools could do, are doing now.
    — CHRIS COLIN, Wired News, 18 May 2026
Definition of trifling
Verb
  • When your fur baby isn’t lounging alongside you, the under-table space can serve as storage for outdoor essentials by simply removing the cushion.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Place a sturdy tray on top to create a flat surface for drinks and snacks, or turn it into a coffee table when you’re done lounging.
    — Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 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 16 Sep. 2026.

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