as in nominal
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention
from his perspective as a billionaire, what the governor got paid was a piffling amount
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piffling
Adjective
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Note that there is a nominal surcharge for using credit instead of cash.
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Competent guides are available at a nominal fee, and the bite for a nonresident fishing license is only $5.
Verb
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When the toys use messaging apps to control their owners in ways that go terrifyingly unnoticed, humankind itself seems to be blundering about with its brain unplugged.
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The consequences ranged from hobbling Reconstruction to hastening the end of the Ottoman Empire to poisonous deflation, and the blundering response by governments helped shape the modern world.
Adjective
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There's a marginal risk of severe weather near the Twin Cities, with a slight risk in the central and northwestern part of the state.
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Man, to see that Curaçao player — in a moment that’s quite important to him, that is earned over so many years of effort — give a slight nod to the invisible man, that warms my heart and brings a smile to my face.
Verb
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Drop in the cinnamon sticks and cloves, gently muddling once or twice to release their aroma.
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Ken Holland, general manager, B Holland arrived on the scene of a muddling franchise that had lost four straight first-round series to the same opponent.
Adjective
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Some were petty — like Reese committing a foul against Clark, then jerking her head back, impersonating Clark as a flopper.
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As long as there have been people, there have been petty complaints about people.
Verb
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The audience is relieved of the prior editions’ boggling tsunami wall of zombies.
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Advertisement All eyes will be on Ilia Malinin, for the stunning array of quadruple jumps that the Virginia native pulls off with a mind boggling ease.
Adjective
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Then, the pandemic reduced the schedule to 60 games and Eddie got a piddling 37%.
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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.
Verb
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San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, who polled at 5% in the CBS survey, accused Becerra of bungling the federal government’s response to COVID-19, mpox and the influx in child migrants under former President Joe Biden.
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And Kash Patel's FBI seems to be bungling the investigation at every step.
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Cite this Entry
“Piffling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piffling. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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