as in nothing
something of little importance
let us not speak of trifles when our nation may be going to war
Synonyms & Similar Words
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1
as in to flirt
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 to play
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 trifle
Paul Wiseman, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2025
Magnetic blackberry trifle flavors with wild thyme and orange donuts animated by marked acidity and a saline minerality with silky texture and a long finish that seems to reverberate its deliciousness for several seconds.
—Cathrine Todd, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
Liana Fix, Foreign Affairs, 26 Apr. 2023
Arsenal might be informed that things could have ended differently had Arteta spent a trifling $120 million on a striker in January.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for trifle
Noun
In the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, the government collected around $80 billion in tariffs and fees, a trifle next to the $2.5 trillion that comes from individual income taxes and the $1.7 trillion from Social Security and Medicare taxes.
—Paul Wiseman, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2025
Magnetic blackberry trifle flavors with wild thyme and orange donuts animated by marked acidity and a saline minerality with silky texture and a long finish that seems to reverberate its deliciousness for several seconds.
—Cathrine Todd, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
Verb
Such a drastic move would represent China throwing down the gauntlet to the United States and Europe, brushing aside as trifling any Western threats of economic punishment.
—Liana Fix, Foreign Affairs, 26 Apr. 2023
Arsenal might be informed that things could have ended differently had Arteta spent a trifling $120 million on a striker in January.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for trifle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trifle
Noun
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My memoir was built of gaps, juxtaposition, weird little nothings.—
Cheri Lucas Rowlands,
Longreads,
16 Dec. 2024
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The one whose legs turned nothings into somethings, improvising the Lions’ entire defensive game plan into a pile of ash?—
Sean Keeler,
The Denver Post,
10 Feb. 2024
Verb
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Cameron flirted with a no-hitter in his first start and made MLB history with his numbers through two.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
24 May 2025
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Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 39 points on 15-of-23 shooting, while Tyrese Haliburton flirted with a triple-double with 14 points on 5-of-16 shooting, eight rebounds and 11 assists.—
Peter Sblendorio,
Hartford Courant,
24 May 2025
Verb
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Baty plays second base on days when Vientos starts at the hot corner, and Vientos gets DH days to get Baty at third.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
28 May 2025
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Both Earps and Hampton have played a very similar number of minutes and faced a very similar number of shots, but Earps’ shot-stopping has not been as strong, conceding 1.6 goals more than expected, based on the quality of shots faced.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
28 May 2025
Noun
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Yesterday’s pangrams were triviality, trivially and virality.—
Alex Travelli,
New York Times,
26 Mar. 2025
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Never issue false assurances, but don’t dwell on trivialities either.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Niccol has also brought back a company tradition of baristas doodling on cups, as well as self-serve milk and sugar stations.—
Jordan Valinsky,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2025
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Related article Starbucks baristas are already complaining about doodling on your cups After Trump was elected, businesses raced to grow their inventories and increased their orders from suppliers even further to get in front of potential tariffs.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN,
7 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Trifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trifle. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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