trifle 1 of 2

trifle

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb trifle differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of trifle are coquet, dally, flirt, and toy. While all these words mean "to deal with or act toward without serious purpose," trifle may imply playfulness, unconcern, indulgent contempt.

to trifle with a lover's feelings

When could coquet be used to replace trifle?

The meanings of coquet and trifle largely overlap; however, coquet implies attracting interest or admiration without serious intention.

companies that coquet with environmentalism solely for public relations

When might dally be a better fit than trifle?

The words dally and trifle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, dally suggests indulging in thoughts or plans merely as an amusement.

dallying with the idea of building a boat someday

When is it sensible to use flirt instead of trifle?

The words flirt and trifle can be used in similar contexts, but flirt implies an interest or attention that soon passes to another object.

flirted with one fashionable ism after another

In what contexts can toy take the place of trifle?

Although the words toy and trifle have much in common, toy implies acting without full attention or serious exertion of one's powers.

a political novice toying with great issues

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 trifle
Noun
Magnetic blackberry trifle flavors with wild thyme and orange donuts animated by marked acidity and a saline minerality with silky texture and a long finish that seems to reverberate its deliciousness for several seconds. Cathrine Todd, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024 This is mostly an odd trifle that, frankly, both of Streep and Soderbergh are better than. 27. Tim Grierson, Vulture, 24 Jan. 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
  • 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
  • Miller saved 28 games for the Athletics last season, and with the A's flirting with .500 out of the gates, the big right-hander could be on the block again.
    Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Although the 28-year-old flirted with breaking Paula Radcliffe’s course record of 2:15:25 set 22 years ago, that was ultimately a step too far for her.
    Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 27 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Vick had a career-high 540 yards rushing in 1988 and played only four NFL seasons.
    Jim Reineking, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Because Ashley played Ellie’s mother, there is this sense of a ghost that’s always there.
    Katcy Stephan, Variety, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Never issue false assurances, but don’t dwell on trivialities either.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • But those details are mere trivialities to the chefs who have turned their love for Rangoons into mozzarella sticks, pasta, melts and more.
    Mehr Singh, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The art of getting distracted in class was almost entirely analog — writing and passing notes, doodling in notebooks or textbooks, whispering or signaling to friends, throwing pencils up into those porous ceiling tiles.
    Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2025
  • For people who are just reading or doodling or watching TV, or for a kid who needs something basic but reliable for games and school and chatting?
    Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 14 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Trifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trifle. Accessed 5 May. 2025.

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