as in trivialities
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 flirts
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 plays
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 trifles
Krissy Tiglias, Southern Living, 28 Oct. 2025
Elegant trifles that prove a baking fail doesn’t mean failure at all.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Sep. 2025
Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 4 Aug. 2025
Noun
Save as a collection on MyRecipes Cobblers, sky-high trifles, bundt cakes, cookies – there are so many impressive and delicious desserts for celebrating Thanksgiving.
—Krissy Tiglias, Southern Living, 28 Oct. 2025
Elegant trifles that prove a baking fail doesn’t mean failure at all.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
Strawberries are delicious in cobblers, trifles, and crisps.
—Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trifles
Verb
-
Mark briefly flirts with manosphere-style aggrievement, but anger doesn’t suit him.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Reeves flirts with Michael Douglas territory in this Eli Roth erotic thriller that’s not especially good but is interesting as an acting exercise.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
As Cuenca plays a ball to the feet of his striker, Wilson dashes in the other direction, delaying Ibrahima Konate’s forward jump because the centre-back knows Bradley is unable to track both him and Robinson at the same time.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
In the dark romantic comedy-drama, True Blood alum Skarsgård, 49, plays tough biker Ray, who enters into a dominant-submissive relationship with Colin (Melling), a shy and directionless man who sings in a barbershop quartet.—
Eric Andersson,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
No injuries were reported after the incident, but airport staff who witnessed the landing described hearing multiple popping sounds as the wheels hit the tarmac followed by visible smoke.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The 13 apartments were damaged by fire, smoke or water.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
No one has ever rushed to the theatre for the sake of Hero and Claudio, the secondary lovers, whose wooings and sunderings, though eventful, seem like very small beer compared with the rich flirtatious spirits of the primary pair.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Trifles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trifles. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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