PIDDLING Synonyms: 126 Similar and Opposite Words

piddling 1 of 2

adjective

ˈpid-lən

Definition of piddling

as in nominal

so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention raised one final, piddling objection to the plan

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

piddling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of piddle

as in trifling

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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 piddling

Adjective

Then, the pandemic reduced the schedule to 60 games and Eddie got a piddling 37%. — 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 What’s particularly baffling is that Syria now produces a piddling amount of oil—about as much as Utah. — Robin Wright, The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2019 That will make the current economic uncertainty look piddling. — Daniel W. Drezner, Twin Cities, 15 Aug. 2019 In the battle for mind share, in the Trumpian quest to be part of every conversation, the Pixel far outweighs its piddling sales. — Vlad Savov, The Verge, 16 Oct. 2018 Of those, only four rather piddling victories went the liberals’ way. — The Economist, 30 June 2018

Recent Examples of Synonyms for piddling

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

In the mid-19th century, the question was of trifling interest to mapmakers, who had far more than four colors at their disposal and saw no particular reason to restrict their palette.

— Gregory Barber, Quanta Magazine, 10 Sep. 2026
But that still left the less-than-trifling matter of the second tier’s title to settle, as the teams were locked together on 97 points with one game still to play.

— Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 1 May 2026

Definition of trifling

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

Adjective

Atoms under a chip The QGI is rather tiny and relies on microwave and magnetic pulses.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
The singer-songwriter, who is currently on tour, mainly resides at a rural compound just outside of Framlingham, the tiny historic town where he was raised.

— Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of tiny

Verb

He's been mucking about with them for going on 60 years, and decided to enter the contest for the first time in 2025.

— Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 13 Aug. 2026
But Ehlers has given Carolina a newfound level of offensive depth, especially given he’s meshed surprisingly well with Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook, two veteran checkers who have been mucking and grinding for years on a team that does that better than anyone.

— James Mirtle, New York Times, 24 May 2026

Definition of mucking

Adjective

Mehring’s characters include petty criminals, unscrupulous lawyers, Galician Jews, Freikorps heavies, local and international businessmen, Prussian generals, and the everyday citizens inhabiting the streets of Berlin’s old and rather dingy center.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026
Some fans and analysts pointed out that the news release looked petty.

— Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of petty

Verb

In the highlight, Marshall retrieves the ball and oddly fires it back to the infield, fooling no one.

— Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Anybody hoping that a Netanyahu defeat in October and the emergence of a less controversial successor will reset the table is likely fooling themselves.

— Daniel DePetris, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of fooling

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“Piddling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piddling. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of piddling

adjective

verb

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