piddly

adjective

ˈpid-lē How to pronounce piddly (audio)
Definition of piddlynext
as in slight
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention there's only a piddly difference in price between the two paintings, so take whichever you prefer

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 piddly The piddly fines certainly aren’t a deterrent. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026 This stole the top spot from 1993, with its piddly 76 days over 100. — Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 21 Dec. 2024 Byrne is still a United States congressman and that’s no piddly thing. — Kyle Whitmire, al, 7 Nov. 2019 This information isn't written in the controller's piddly instruction manual. — Sam MacHkovech, Ars Technica, 16 Nov. 2018 After Kilauea's 1924 summit explosions, the volcano entered a decade of piddly rumblings, followed by 18 years of silence. — Sophia Yan and Malcolm Ritter, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 June 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piddly
  1. slight
  2. nominal
  3. tiny
  4. petty
  5. piddling
  6. insignificant
  7. trivial
  8. paltry
Adjective
  • Storms could be severe, with a level 2 out of 5; a slight risk is in place.
    — Laura Bannon, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • However, recent August polling shows Democrats are making ground on Republicans — still within the poll's margin of error — but with Talarico having a slight edge over Paxton.
    — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of slight
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
Adjective
  • One of my non-negotiable recommendations is Tonnara di Scopello, another historic tuna fishery turned into a tiny museum and protected cove.
    — Megan Rose Murray, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Forward-looking brands and retailers are drawing up blueprints for the next demographic frontier — the tiniest tots born between 2025 and 2039.
    — Faye Brookman, Footwear News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of tiny
Adjective
  • Again and again, Bass went after Raman in the pettiest, most personal ways.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • But to build a web of accusations based on false premises and the manipulation of reality in order to attack the Biennale and a film invited to compete is a petty and unacceptable act.
    — John Bleasdale, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of petty
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
Adjective
  • Our problems are insignificant compared to the thousands of people who have lost their lives.
    — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • That is not insignificant on the way to the 270 needed to win.
    — Mike Catalini, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of insignificant
Adjective
  • The trivial and the momentous can be connected; small deviations can set us on larger paths.
    — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
  • But resorting to litigation rather than negotiating a settlement to this trivial dispute could open a new source of pain.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of trivial
Adjective
  • The country is mired in a war with Iran with no graceful exit opportunities; a new round of tariffs threatens to further disrupt fragile global trade relations; and the domestic economy faces inflation combined with paltry growth.
    — Zachary Karabell, Washington Post, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Being paid a paltry second-line rate for the next six years is a bargain.
    — Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of paltry

Browse Nearby Words

piddling
piddly
pidgin
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Cite this Entry

“Piddly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piddly. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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