trifling

comparative more trifling · superlative most trifling

1. Trivial, or of little importance.

   […] it doesn't take him long to make any of them, and he sells them for some trifling sum of money.

   2005, Plato, translated by Lesley Brown, Sophist, page 234a

   4 more examples

   […] 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.

   1691, John Ray, “The Cartesian Hypothesis Considered and Censured”, in The Wisdom of God Manifested in the Works of the Creation. […], London: […] Samuel Smith, […], →OCLC, page 39

   However, upon a ſtrict Review, I blotted out ſeveral Paſſages of leſs Moment which were in my firſt Copy, for fear of being cenſured as tedious and trifling, whereof Travellers are often, perhaps not without Juſtice, accuſed.

   1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “A Great Storm Described, the Long-Boat Sent to Fetch Water, the Author Goes with It to Discover the Country. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part II (A Voyage to Brobdingnag), page [176]

   Trifling, apparently, was the circumstance that led to the restoration of Charles. But there is nothing really little or trifling in the government of God.

   1840, Lewis Rose, “Fear that we are on the way to troubles”, in An Humble Attempt to Put an End to the Present Divisions in the Church of Scotland, and to Promote Her Usefulness. […] , Glasgow: George Gallie, →OCLC, page 4

   He complains more and more frequently that the state apparatus is expanding indefinitely without need and at the same time is incapable of getting anything done, that everything is muddie and red tape, that civil servants refer the most trifling questions to high party officials, and so on.

   1978 [1976], Leszek Kołakowski, translated by P[aul] S[teven] Falla, Main Currents of Marxism, volume II: The Golden Age, Oxford: Clarendon Press, translation of Główne nurty marksizmu: rozwój (in Polish), →ISBN, →OCLC, page 489

   Synonyms: trivial, inconsequential, petty, base, contemptible, floccinaucinihilipilificatious, foolish, for the birds

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.

   1735, Robert Dodsley, The Toy-Shop. A Dramatick Satire., page 7

3. now chiefly African-American VernacularGood-for-nothing; shady or lazy; scrub.

   You trifling good for nothin’ type of brother.

   3 more examples

   My hand was aching to slap that silly heifer. I told her to take her trifling ass down to Burger King and get herself a job flipping burgers […]

   2001, Glenda Howard, Cita's World

   "To hell with that trifling nigga!", and "You deserved every bad thing you got!"

   2006 December 4, Douglas J. Knox, Deceitful Desires, Xlibris Corporation, →ISBN, page 102

   After all my loyalty of not letting Ice Mike['s] hoes choose me when I didn't even have any hoes[, he let one of mine abandon me]. Now I needed some support to keep this trifling hoe focused on getting bond money to get me out of jail.

   2020 January 31, Donald Boone, Beast Master, Newman Springs Publishing, →ISBN

plural triflings

1. countableuncountableThe act of one who trifles; frivolous behaviour.

   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.

   1845, George Croly, Samuel Warren, Marston, or the Memoirs of a Statesman

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of trifle