TRIFLING Synonyms: 157 Similar and Opposite Words

trifling 1 of 2

adjective

ˈtrī-f(ə-)liŋ

Definition of trifling

as in minor

lacking importance deciding what you want to do for a living is no trifling matter

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in slight

so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention trifling differences between the theatrical and DVD versions of the movie

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

trifling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of trifle

as in flirting

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

as in playing

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 trifling

Adjective

Cut to terra ferma, where the almighty rainstorm soaking the streets of Rome seems a comparatively trifling bit of weather. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 7 Sep. 2026 In less trifling hands, there’s no telling what these tools could do, are doing now. — Chris Colin, Wired News, 18 May 2026 Meanwhile, that global temperature record that DiCaprio mentioned in his acceptance speech in 2016 seems almost trifling compared to what has happened since. — Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026 The health factor is no trifling qualifier for a player who has missed time with shoulder and oblique injuries, in addition to that unfortunate incident with his pelvic floor. — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026 Talk of mounting nuclear readiness towards Russia, which has more atomic weapons than any other country in the world, could overshadow more trifling domestic matters, like the Epstein scandal, for instance. — Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2025 Pixar has long stood out by bringing something less trifling to theatergoing families. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 15 July 2025 The cost to find these answers, even in the near term, is relatively trifling. — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 30 Oct. 2023

Verb

In the mid-19th century, the question was of trifling interest to mapmakers, who had far more than four colors at their disposal and saw no particular reason to restrict their palette. — Gregory Barber, Quanta Magazine, 10 Sep. 2026 But that still left the less-than-trifling matter of the second tier’s title to settle, as the teams were locked together on 97 points with one game still to play. — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 1 May 2026 The rise may seem trifling, but staffers work long hours, and a caffeine budget is a necessity. — Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 7 Feb. 2026 The aging Airy had devoted his observatory to stellar measurements that now produced trifling improvements to navigation. — Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025 But those trifling problems aren’t for Jane to worry about. — Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for trifling

Adjective

Once in orbit at L2, only minor burns once every 28 days are needed for station keeping — a negligible amount of fuel.

— Keith Cooper, Space.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Everyone wants better decisions, particularly when their own team is on the wrong end of an injustice, minor or major.

— Oliver Kay, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of minor

Adjective

Another clever stunt that Althoff pulled off on the The Really Good Podcast was that she was involved in a slight-of-hand brand stunt with L’Oreal’s CeraVe.

— Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026
Chubb was a slight disappointment in his Bills debut from a pass-rushing perspective.

— Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of slight

Verb

Gilbert was raised in Coral Springs, Florida, playing in several bands before forming New Found Glory in 1997 with Jordan Pundik, Steve Klein, Ian Grushka and Joe Marino, who was quickly replaced by Cyrus Bolooki.

— Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026
Iamaleava looked much more comfortable and confident in the pocket, despite playing through multiple injuries.

— Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of playing

Adjective

Rooms This is a big hotel, with 177 rooms and suites that range in size and shape from the smallest superior rooms to the impressive top-floor penthouse.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Sep. 2026
Newsom, in his veto message at the time, cited concerns about stifling innovation and said smaller AI models, which would have been exempt from the law, could also be dangerous.

— Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of small

Adjective

Patients in Medicaid, the state- and federally-funded program for people with low incomes, already pay a nominal co-payment of a few dollars to fill their prescriptions, but lower prices could help state budgets that fund the programs.

— Fatima Hussein, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
But recent wars have exposed the gap between nominal power and usable military capability.

— NADIA SCHADLOW, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of nominal

Verb

Zeus did not approve of his daughter fooling around with this mortal roughneck hunter and put out a hit on Orion.

— Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
The transition was rough for Ansari, who wasn’t fluent in English and often got in trouble for fooling around in school.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026