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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of trifles
Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
Treaties were trifles compared to armies and bullets.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
Enjoy them as-is, in fruit trifles or parfaits, as part of a fruit salsa or salad, or blended into smoothies.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Jan. 2026
Sky-high trifles, rich and creamy puddings, homemade candy– the holidays are a great time for decadent desserts.
—Krissy Tiglias, Southern Living, 13 Nov. 2025
Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2025
Strawberries are delicious in cobblers, trifles, and crisps.
—Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 4 Aug. 2025
Noun
But in the past year, the scope of insider trading has grown to unprecedented levels thanks to new platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket that offer bets on everything from major world events to celebrity trifles.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
Treaties were trifles compared to armies and bullets.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
Enjoy them as-is, in fruit trifles or parfaits, as part of a fruit salsa or salad, or blended into smoothies.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Jan. 2026
Sky-high trifles, rich and creamy puddings, homemade candy– the holidays are a great time for decadent desserts.
—Krissy Tiglias, Southern Living, 13 Nov. 2025
Verb
Bake off scraps of pie dough (either plain or with a sprinkling of cinnamon-sugar) until golden and crisp, then crumble into sundaes, parfaits, trifles, and more.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2025
Strawberries are delicious in cobblers, trifles, and crisps.
—Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trifles
Verb
-
At a lawn party devoted to the game of cornhole, Clark flirts with Floyd’s wife and the two soon begin an affair, meeting for afternoon assignations at the local Quality Garden Suites.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
-
There is a genre-bending western; two stories blend speculative details with realism to portray women planning their escapes; three stories spec-ify the only-daughter experience; and one story flirts with where to begin.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Alegría directed half of the show’s eight episodes; Urrejola plays the key character of Blanca.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
4 May 2026
-
The addition of the guest play-callers, Close and women’s water polo coach Adam Wright, led to a variety of trick plays throughout the game.—
Sean Campbell,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
Here, Matcha Milk toys the line between sweet and earthy, blending macadamia milk and vanilla with black tea and matcha accord.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Ukrainian drones have hit the oil refinery and export terminal in Tuapse on four occasions in just over two weeks, sparking fires that prompted local evacuations and sent up massive plumes of smoke.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 May 2026
-
Typically found at gas stations and smoke shops, kratom and its synthetic version, known as 7-Hydroxymitragynine or 7-OH, have been marketed as an over-the-counter aid for pain, anxiety and drug dependence.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Compared to those turbulent days, the second biggest defeat of Parkinson's reign is very small beer.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
-
South of the Border Founded in 1949 by Alan Schafer as a small beer stand just south of the North Carolina–South Carolina line (hence the name), South of the Border grew into one of the most recognizable roadside attractions in the South.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trifles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trifles. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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