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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of trifles
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
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
-
While waiting for flights to resume, Charli’s character Bethany flirts with the idea of blowing up her life by rekindling a romance with an old friend who owns a flower shop in Warsaw.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Delivered with an ease that flirts with comedy, it can be taken as humor punctuating drama.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Air service plays an outsize role in the nation's most expansive state, where most communities rely on flights for year-round access.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Everyone plays a role The week before spring break was a special-occasion-puzzle Friday with a cookie prize for the first girl and first boy to answer correctly.—
Mary Divine,
Twin Cities,
22 Mar. 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
-
Dramatic footage shows flames and thick black smoke billowing from the area around the airport, while firefighters worked to contain the blaze.—
Moriah Thomas,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Associated Press video showed smoke rising from northeastern Tehran.—
Samy Magdy,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
In addition to approving the city permits, the commissioners also recommended that the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board grant the project’s request for a (Type 23) state alcohol license allowing a small beer manufacturing operation and a (Type 74) license for a craft distillery.—
Barbara Henry,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trifles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trifles. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
