as in nothing
something of little importance
let us not speak of trifles when our nation may be going to war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to flirt
to show a sexual attraction for someone just for fun
do not trifle with me unless you mean to ask me to marry you
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to play
to spend time in aimless activity
spent a lazy afternoon trifling on the front porch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of trifle
Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 21 Mar. 2025
Don’t skip the killer desserts, revered by locals, which include the beloved trifle known as somlói, as well as diós nudli, a.k.a.
—Evan Rail, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Liana Fix, Foreign Affairs, 26 Apr. 2023
Arsenal might be informed that things could have ended differently had Arteta spent a trifling $120 million on a striker in January.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for trifle
Noun
But Willard’s point is that a coach at one of the nation’s top programs should not have to sweat such trifles.
—Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 21 Mar. 2025
Don’t skip the killer desserts, revered by locals, which include the beloved trifle known as somlói, as well as diós nudli, a.k.a.
—Evan Rail, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
Such a drastic move would represent China throwing down the gauntlet to the United States and Europe, brushing aside as trifling any Western threats of economic punishment.
—Liana Fix, Foreign Affairs, 26 Apr. 2023
Arsenal might be informed that things could have ended differently had Arteta spent a trifling $120 million on a striker in January.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for trifle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trifle
Noun
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My memoir was built of gaps, juxtaposition, weird little nothings.—
Cheri Lucas Rowlands,
Longreads,
16 Dec. 2024
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The one whose legs turned nothings into somethings, improvising the Lions’ entire defensive game plan into a pile of ash?—
Sean Keeler,
The Denver Post,
10 Feb. 2024
Verb
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President Donald Trump's middle son joined the long-standing family practice of flirting with national politics in a June 27 interview that could mark the beginnings of a new dynasty.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
29 June 2025
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The two have flirted with the idea of a romantic relationship many times since then, but have yet to truly go there onscreen.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
27 June 2025
Verb
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Students were required to undertake certain extracurricular activities (Prevost was in the choir with Franks—both sing tenor—and played tennis) and to keep up their academic performance, but mostly the school’s focus was how to live in community.—
Belinda Luscombe,
Time,
1 July 2025
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Pitcher of the Year: Taylor McKean, Aledo Aledo senior Taylor McKean, a Tarleton Softball pledge, was one of the best pitchers in Dallas-Fort Worth and played a pivotal role in another strong season for the Bearcats.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 July 2025
Noun
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His reinstatement of Rose and Jackson is no exception: History has become an irrelevant triviality — ignored or, even better, forgotten.—
Cory Franklin,
Twin Cities,
1 June 2025
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Yesterday’s pangrams were triviality, trivially and virality.—
Alex Travelli,
New York Times,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Journals with blank pages, including sketchbooks, give kids plenty of space to doodle, write or create scrapbooks.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
3 June 2025
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Niccol has also brought back a company tradition of baristas doodling on cups, as well as self-serve milk and sugar stations.—
Jordan Valinsky,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Trifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trifle. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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