as in nothing
something of little importance
the money we spend on cable is small beer compared to the mortgage payment we have to come up with every month
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of small beer
In a world of deepfakes, ersatz eye contact is small beer.
—
Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2026
Of course, a pipeline is small beer compared to the world’s largest island, Greenland, laden with energy resources and rare earths.
—Llewellyn King, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
To merely denounce the war, or to call for the end of American military support for Israel, would have been small beer.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2025
This was, to Biden’s critics on the left, small beer.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for small beer
Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2026
Of course, a pipeline is small beer compared to the world’s largest island, Greenland, laden with energy resources and rare earths.
—Llewellyn King, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
To merely denounce the war, or to call for the end of American military support for Israel, would have been small beer.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2025
This was, to Biden’s critics on the left, small beer.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for small beer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for small beer
Noun
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When Dana, who, like Virginia, had been successful in writing pleasant but undistinguished nothings—in her case, songs for Billy Rose’s revues—decided to try taking on more serious music by studying with Boulanger, Virginia entered a deep downward spiral.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
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Why did her mom press so hard for the littlest of nothings?—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
4 Dec. 2025
Noun
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All the more reason for those under this sign to embrace the softness and triviality of floral prints right before spring arrives.—
Katherine J Igoe,
InStyle,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Any piece of art begins in triviality.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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He was known to create some of his landscapes at the Kensington property while observing how small changes in the sun’s position created subtle shifts in the light on fields surrounding the house.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
7 Apr. 2026
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Kelly added that small changes, like keeping high-value pieces away from exits or using more secure mounting hardware, can make a meaningful difference by slowing down a thief and giving law enforcement more time to respond.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Small beer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/small%20beer. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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