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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in dawdling
to spend time doing nothing
spent the morning footling about while others were working
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of footling
Barton Swaim, WSJ, 21 June 2019
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
Adjective
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The macro hasn't changed: chronic fiscal deficits, an eventual glide lower in real rates if nominal cuts meet sticky inflation, and incentives to keep liquidity flowing.—
Bob Haber,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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Yet meticulous planning means that there is always a nuanced plan — 4-3-3 is his nominal starting formation, but individual roles are tweaked depending on the opposition.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Rivera pushed through her routine, adapting to slight errors and fighting for the landing on the dismount.—
Caroline Price,
Forbes.com,
9 Aug. 2025
-
After a slight chance of storms during the day Saturday, there is a 60% chance of rainfall overnight, leading to a more-than-likely wet Sunday.—
Jack Albright,
jsonline.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Then, the pandemic reduced the schedule to 60 games and Eddie got a piddling 37%.—
Star Tribune,
Star Tribune,
3 Dec. 2020
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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
Adjective
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And the conflict between the law-abiding brother and his petty thief sibling isn’t over a herd of cattle or gold mine but over a screenplay an agent promises will bring them fame and fortune.—
Denise Crosby,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Aug. 2025
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Weeks before the closing announcement, blame fell on the store’s lack of shopping carts, the closure of self-checkout lanes and a visible rise in shoplifting and petty crime.—
Gloria Ngwa,
Twin Cities,
1 Aug. 2025
Verb
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These include avoiding idling in drive-thru lanes, carpooling, taking public transit or walking, and biking for short trips.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Apr. 2025
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What To Know To help reduce ozone formation, residents are encouraged to avoid idling in drive-thru lanes, and instead consider alternatives like sharing a ride or walking in.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Talk of mounting nuclear readiness towards Russia, which has more atomic weapons than any other country in the world, could overshadow more trifling domestic matters, like the Epstein scandal, for instance.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
2 Aug. 2025
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Pixar has long stood out by bringing something less trifling to theatergoing families.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
15 July 2025
Verb
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Those include a sitting area off the primary bedroom, a dining table on the narrow part of the deck, a patio outfitted for entertaining, and multiple options for lounging by the pool.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
13 Apr. 2025
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The Modern Family alum could be seen lounging while wearing black bikini bottoms and holding a product from her Toty suncare brand.—
Brenton Blanchet,
People.com,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Hoops can range from tiny huggies to bold statement pieces and come in a variety of shapes—oval, square, triangular, and beyond.—
Lauren Alexis Fisher,
Footwear News,
7 Aug. 2025
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The tiny matching spoon fits perfectly inside the lid of the jam jar, and the jar even comes with a circular spoon rest. Serve up your favorite jams of the season, or use the jar in a gift basket alongside homemade creations during the holidays.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Footling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/footling. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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