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

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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

Current bond yields, which tend to track nominal GDP trends, are still reflecting the rise in inflation that occurred during Covid.

— Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 20 July 2026
The walls had a nominal utility as fences for the dairy herd that was milked in the great white cow barn, but this was only ever a Gilded Age fantasy of the rustic idyll.

— Matt Seaton, The Atlantic, 19 July 2026

Definition of nominal

Verb

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
The rise may seem trifling, but staffers work long hours, and a caffeine budget is a necessity.

— Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 7 Feb. 2026

Definition of trifling

Adjective

The righty, working with a slight pitch count after a complete game last week, followed two strikeouts in the first inning with five more in his outing.

— Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Morgan walked into the opening match for SummerSlam Saturday as a slight favorite per Betonline.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of slight

Adjective

One tiny decision can act as a huge catalyst for your life path to unfold in a new way.

— Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Aug. 2026
Spain's Ministry of the Interior said more than 48,000 migrants who arrived at the border of the tiny territory of Ceuta have been sent back to Morocco.

— Kerry Breen, CBS News, 31 July 2026

Definition of tiny

Verb

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
In retirement, he’s gone back to that childhood, mucking the stalls and helping care for a menagerie that includes two horses, 10 mini goats, two mini pigs, a pair of horses and a bunch of chickens and dogs and cats.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026

Definition of mucking

Adjective

His legal team couched the City Council’s move to weaken the mayor’s authority and strip him of privileges as a petty effort to unseat the youngest mayor in the city’s history, and one who has questioned their leadership.

— Reed Williams, AJC.com, 29 July 2026
One Marchand report contained several petty and embarrassing details about McAfee that clearly came from ESPN insiders.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026

Definition of petty

Verb

Throughout all the commotion, Romelu Lukaku acted as decoy, holding on to the ball, fooling everyone, including the TV producer, who pulled up a graphic showing his recent penalty record.

— Geir Jordet, New York Times, 15 July 2026
Speaking on Harvard Business School’s The Founder Mindset podcast, hosted by senior lecturer and serial entrepreneur Reza Satchu, the Shark Tank investor argued that anyone trying to balance a young company against the rest of their life is fooling themselves.

— Sydney Lake, Fortune, 17 June 2026

Definition of fooling

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“Piddling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piddling. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of piddling

adjective

verb

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