Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

Thesaurus

trifle

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of trifle

something of little importance
  • Let us not speak of trifles when our nation may be going to war.
Synonyms of trifle

child's play, nothing, picayune, shuck(s), triviality
Words Related to trifle

naught (also nought), nothingness, smoke, zero

peanuts, pittance, song, straw, two bits

bunk, claptrap, drivel, folly, fribble, fudge, hogwash, humbug, humbuggery, nonsense, piffle, rot, trash

trifle

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of trifle

1 to show a sexual attraction for someone just for fun
  • Do not trifle with me unless you really care for me.
Synonyms of trifle

dally, flirt, toy
Words Related to trifle

vamp

court, mash, woo

josh, kid, put on, razz, rib, tease

fool, lead on, string along

manipulate, play (with)
2 to spend time in aimless activity
  • We spent a lazy afternoon trifling on the front porch.
Synonyms of trifle

doodle, fiddle (around), fool around, fribble, goof (around), kick around, mess around, monkey (around), play, potter (around), putter (around)
Words Related to trifle

dally, dawdle, dillydally, hang (around or out), idle, loaf, loll, lounge

clown (around), horse around

diddle (with), tinker
Near Antonyms of trifle

buckle (down), knuckle down, set (to), settle (down)

Synonym Discussion of trifle

trifle, toy, dally, flirt, coquet mean to deal with or act toward without serious purpose. trifle may imply playfulness, unconcern, indulgent contempt.
    • to trifle with a lover's feelings
toy implies acting without full attention or serious exertion of one's powers.
    • a political novice toying with great issues
dally suggests indulging in thoughts or plans merely as an amusement.
    • dallying with the idea of building a boat someday
flirt implies an interest or attention that soon passes to another object.
    • flirted with one fashionable ism after another
coquet implies attracting interest or admiration without serious intention.
    • companies that coquet with environmentalism solely for public relations

Learn More about trifle

  1. See words that rhyme with trifle Dictionary: Definition of trifle Spanish Central: Translation of trifle Nglish: Translation of trifle for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of trifle for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up trifle? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games