What does "trifling" mean?
The act of one who trifles; frivolous behaviour.
Trifling
/ˈtɹaɪfliŋ/ adj, noun, verb
adj, noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of one who trifles; frivolous behaviour.
- Grammar: trifling is listed as adj, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: negligible, airy, asinine, banal.
- Useful contrasts: massive, notable, material.
- Usage evidence: Their trouble stems from a trifling matter.
How to use "trifling"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "trifling" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "trifling" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "trifling" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "trifling" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "trifling" is acting as adj, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "negligible" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "trifling", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of one who trifles; frivolous behaviour. countable, uncountable
"He writes on the principle, of course, that in one's dotage we are privileged to return to the triflings of our infancy, and that Downing Street cannot be better employed in these days than as a chapel of ease to Eton."
- 2 the deliberate act of delaying and playing instead of working wordnet
Verb
- 1 present participle and gerund of trifle form-of, gerund, participle, present
Adjective
- 1 Trivial, or of little importance.
"[…] It is not ſo decorous in reſpect of God, that he ſhould αὐτουργεῖν ἅπαντα [autourgeîn hápanta], ſet his ovvn hand as it vvere to every vvork, and immediately do all the meaneſt and triflingſt things himſelf drudgingly, vvithout making uſe of any inferior or ſubordinate Miniſters."
- 2 Frivolous.
"For, really, as it is a trifling Age, ſo nothing but Trifles are valued in it. Men read none but trifling Authors, purſue none but trifling Amusements, and contend for none but trifling Opinions. A trifling Fellow is prefer'd, a trifling Woman admir'd."
- 3 Nasty or dirty.
"Then she said she doesn’t take showers, that’s just trifling."
- 4 Good-for-nothing; shady or lazy; scrub.
"You trifling good for nothin’ type of brother."
Adjective
- 1 not worth considering wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"Their trouble stems from a trifling matter."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "trifling"?
Common synonyms include: negligible, airy, asinine, banal, bickering, brimful.
How do you use "trifling" in a sentence?
Their trouble stems from a trifling matter.
How do you pronounce "trifling"?
Pronounced /ˈtɹaɪfliŋ/.
Etymology
By surface analysis, trifle + -ing.