as in minor
lacking importance
you should delegate these fiddling matters to your staff so that you can focus on more important issues
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in fidgeting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in twitching
to make jerky or restless movements
the executive fiddled with a pen as she impatiently waited for the meeting to begin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cheating
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
conscienceless grifters who had spent their lives fiddling the naive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Examples 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 fiddling
Cathy Thomas, Orange County Register, 13 Jan. 2025
Such is always the case with this sort of self-interested fiddling.
—Eric Gordy, Foreign Affairs, 10 Oct. 2018
Saturday Fiddle Contest: 11 a.m. at Alyeska Pipeline Colony Stage
Grab your fiddle and play a tune or just check out some of the state’s best sawing on their instruments in a number of categories, including youth, teen, open and twin fiddling.
—Chris Bieri, Anchorage Daily News, 30 Aug. 2023
Again, no fiddling.
—Jefferson Graham, USA TODAY, 26 Sep. 2020
With more time on her hands, Henderson has been learning improvisation, bluegrass fiddling and improvisation.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Nov. 2020
This camera snaps great pics on the fly, with just a touch more fiddling required for focus at times, versus say the Pixel 7 Pro.
—Dave Altavilla, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2023
This is consistent with data manipulation, actual fiddling of the results, which is outright fraud - although there are some more benign possibilities.
—Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 27 Mar. 2014
The satisfactions of this revival of A Man of No Importance are all in that smaller-scale fiddling: both literally, in the sense of a bit of violin-playing onstage, and in a cast of supporting performances all crafted with delicacy.
—Vulture, 31 Oct. 2022
Noun
The fiddling pays off when the fresh herb vinaigrette dresses a mix of Iceberg lettuce and one of the mixed greens combos sold in the marketplace.
—Cathy Thomas, Orange County Register, 13 Jan. 2025
Such is always the case with this sort of self-interested fiddling.
—Eric Gordy, Foreign Affairs, 10 Oct. 2018
Saturday Fiddle Contest: 11 a.m. at Alyeska Pipeline Colony Stage
Grab your fiddle and play a tune or just check out some of the state’s best sawing on their instruments in a number of categories, including youth, teen, open and twin fiddling.
—Chris Bieri, Anchorage Daily News, 30 Aug. 2023
Again, no fiddling.
—Jefferson Graham, USA TODAY, 26 Sep. 2020
With more time on her hands, Henderson has been learning improvisation, bluegrass fiddling and improvisation.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Nov. 2020
This camera snaps great pics on the fly, with just a touch more fiddling required for focus at times, versus say the Pixel 7 Pro.
—Dave Altavilla, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2023
This is consistent with data manipulation, actual fiddling of the results, which is outright fraud - although there are some more benign possibilities.
—Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 27 Mar. 2014
The satisfactions of this revival of A Man of No Importance are all in that smaller-scale fiddling: both literally, in the sense of a bit of violin-playing onstage, and in a cast of supporting performances all crafted with delicacy.
—Vulture, 31 Oct. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fiddling
Adjective
-
The three teens, whose identities have not been released due to their minor status, are all being held at Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Facility.—
Christina Coulter,
Fox News,
27 Jan. 2025
-
Although it’s injured after escaping from one of the traps, Yuri manages to bond with the little critter and treat its minor lacerations after smuggling him home in her backpack.—
Justin Lowe,
The Hollywood Reporter,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
And no, this isn’t some cheating scandal or love triangle.—
Chris Branch,
The Athletic,
31 Dec. 2024
-
Niemann, who had previously admitted to cheating in online games, denied Carlsen's allegations.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
28 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Sitting in front of local leaders, Trump again wrongly blamed elements of the fire disaster on a lack of water resources coming from the Delta and environmental protections for the delta smelt, a small fish near extinction that has become a symbol of GOP frustration.—
Ari Plachta,
Sacramento Bee,
25 Jan. 2025
-
Imagine rewiring your belief in yourself even on a small stage, but in front of millions.—
Matthew Futterman,
The Athletic,
25 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The ensuing reply-all showed little sympathy for the ninety-five-year-old school and its community.—
Jessica Winter,
The New Yorker,
18 Jan. 2025
-
The summer of 2020 did little to allay those fears: Inexperienced intelligence officers from the agency were deployed to Portland, Ore., to compile dossiers on people protesting against police violence.—
Eileen Sullivan,
New York Times,
18 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
After three consecutive drives ended in a punt following Rodgers’ interception, the 41-year-old led the Jets down the field, tossing his first touchdown pass since Week 16 and the 500th of his career.—
C. Isaiah Smalls II,
Miami Herald,
6 Jan. 2025
-
Before tossing them in the trash, check in with your local homeless shelter, food pantry, or other non-profit as these organizations often have need for travel-sized toiletries.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
That slight warming trend is expected to continue Friday, when high temperatures reach the upper 30s, with lows in the upper teens.—
Matt Hubbard,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Jan. 2025
-
The snow started falling Sunday afternoon, with a slight mix of hail.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
19 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
This is indeed a car that will reward you for hustling it down a twisty road should the desire arise.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
3 Jan. 2025
-
And for Lil Baby, one of the hottest artists out at the moment, the transition from hustling in the streets of Atlanta to earning over $100 million in record deals and endorsements came with a harsh financial wake-up call.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
23 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Good schools are one benefit of wealthy communities that may improve social mobility even for children born into poverty, studies suggest.—
Tom Kemeny,
The Conversation,
16 Jan. 2025
-
The new, leaner DuPont will include water and its remaining healthcare, advanced mobility, and safety and production businesses.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
16 Jan. 2025
Articles Related to fiddling
Thesaurus Entries Near fiddling
Cite this Entry
“Fiddling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fiddling. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share