as in nothing
something of little importance
let us not speak of trifles when our nation may be going to war
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 4 Aug. 2025
In other words, a trifle: easy to digest, easy to forget.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 31 July 2025
Rory Smith, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2024
In the event, however, the Biden Justice Department prosecuted hundreds of people on trifling misdemeanor offenses that would never have been charged in normal cases untainted by partisan politics.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 9 Dec. 2023
See All Example Sentences for trifle
Noun
Strawberries are delicious in cobblers, trifles, and crisps.
—Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 4 Aug. 2025
In other words, a trifle: easy to digest, easy to forget.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 31 July 2025
Verb
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
In the event, however, the Biden Justice Department prosecuted hundreds of people on trifling misdemeanor offenses that would never have been charged in normal cases untainted by partisan politics.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 9 Dec. 2023
See All Example Sentences for trifle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trifle
Noun
-
My memoir was built of gaps, juxtaposition, weird little nothings.—
Cheri Lucas Rowlands,
Longreads,
16 Dec. 2024
-
But nothings more peaceful than tomorrow to a man going through pain today.—
Becca Longmire,
Peoplemag,
22 Feb. 2024
Verb
-
The National Enquirer reports that Urban has been flirting with women on the Nashville music scene for years.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Most of the songs topped, or flirted with the top, of the R&B charts.—
Josh Crutchmer,
Rolling Stone,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
He's played Dante Falconeri on the soap since 2009 and has appeared in over 1,600 episodes as the mob boss.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Betts made a Gold Glove finalist-worthy play for the first out – ranging into the hole to make a backhand play then a jump throw to first.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
For Herzog, this simultaneous coexistence of high art and triviality is part of LA’s twisted genius.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 Sep. 2025
-
The token slivers of human-interest drama (a divorce battle, a visit to the pediatrician) that are meant to counterpoint the possibility of Armageddon with the oh-so-ironic triviality of quotidian concerns.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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When David Jiricek got dipsy-doodled at the blue line, there Gustavsson was to make the save.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Under Niccol, Starbucks has brought back its tradition of baristas doodling on cups in Sharpie pens; reinstated self-serve milk and sugar stations; cut 30% of the food and drink menu; ended its open-bathroom policy for non-paying customers; and laid off 1,100 corporate employees in February.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Trifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trifle. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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