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
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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
as in fidgeting
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fiddling
Valerie Monroe, Allure, 21 Feb. 2025
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
Adjective
Life’s hard enough, and if facial fiddling is music to your ears, have at it.
—Valerie Monroe, Allure, 21 Feb. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fiddling
Adjective
-
Besides the home advantage, Pia Sundhage’s side had a minor edge on goal difference, which meant a draw would be enough for them.—
Neel Shelat,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
-
Documents previously obtained by TMZ showed that Kim is pursuing primary physical custody and joint legal custody of her four minor children with Kroy.—
Erin Clack,
People.com,
12 July 2025
Verb
-
Lars Baron/Getty Images/Getty Images Europe The ski jumping world remains embroiled in controversy stemming from a cheating scandal that was announced this week, initially involving a few members of the Norwegian team.—
Manuela López Restrepo,
NPR,
14 Mar. 2025
-
Netflix’s first season of Temptation Island was filled with cheating men, frustrated women, and lots of flashing red lights as folks repeatedly hooked up in an outdoor tent.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The Australian Open offered the smallest prize pool in 2025: $96.5 million AUD (about $63 million).—
Emily Blackwood,
People.com,
12 July 2025
-
Deforestation and insufficient small prey force birds to migrate to other areas.—
The San Diego Union Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
But most of the middle part is missing, and there’s little to explain how the event unfolded from one stage to the next.—
Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi,
Discover Magazine,
5 July 2025
-
This time, however, the mound visit had little effect.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 July 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
-
And when detecting the artist approaching flow, the device would emit a subtle cue — a slight change in the sound of their instrument or the lighting — to give the brain a subconscious boost and thereby accelerate and enhance one’s immersion into flow.—
Brandon Sneed,
Rolling Stone,
6 July 2025
-
Similarly, Morning Consult's June 27 to 29 poll found 47 percent of respondents approved of Trump's job performance, with 50 percent disapproving—a slight improvement from May's 45 percent approval and 53 percent disapproval.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 July 2025
Verb
-
Pope made sure to share the celebration again, jogging to find his wife and daughters behind the bench for a long embrace before hustling to a TV interview.—
Jesse Temple,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
-
Rayah Marshall attacked the rim before hustling to the back of the player’s line.—
Benjamin Royer,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Supporters applauded the effort to give more notice and assistance to the more than 1 million county residents with some type of disability, such as cognitive impairment or limited mobility.—
Miranda Green,
CBS News,
14 July 2025
-
Advertisement The protections afforded by the 14th Amendment wiped away African Americans’ fears of colonization programs, as well as rendering state laws restricting interstate mobility and settlement unconstitutional.—
Time,
Time,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fiddling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fiddling. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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