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
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
Noun
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
-
The researchers say that while the brain activity associated with these movements largely remained the same over time, their location within the brain could shift slightly from day to day — and this is why AI, which can automatically adjust for these minor changes — proved key.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
16 Mar. 2025
-
Proper treatment can help the liver heal from minor damage, including fibrosis.—
Sarah Hudgens,
Health,
16 Mar. 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
-
On Monday evening, a small but passionate group of parents, students, and teachers gathered at a school board meeting to once against ask officials to pause the plan and look for other options that would allow Central to stay open.—
Rose Evans,
Idaho Statesman,
14 Mar. 2025
-
There are other arguments for smaller capacity venues.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
But despite Trump’s harsh tone, the prospect of higher tariffs will mean little to Moscow, given the tiny amounts of trade between the US and Russia.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN,
7 Mar. 2025
-
Without fair elections, an honest media environment and a credible opposition, voters can’t correct their country’s course at the ballot box, providing competitive authoritarian regimes little incentive to do anything but enrich themselves.—
Elizabeth Shackelford,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 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
-
The bill released Saturday will fund the government through Sept. 30 and provide a slight boost to defense spending while making a moderate cut to non-defense programs.—
Deirdre Walsh,
NPR,
8 Mar. 2025
-
Sugarcane honey is a concentrated form of sugarcane juice that has a slight licorice taste and a touch of bitterness.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 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
-
Rebuilding nerves and maintaining mobility requires commitment.—
Essence,
Essence,
5 Mar. 2025
-
Doing so with a streetcar is helping transition the learnings of autonomous racing to enable safe, secure, sustainable, high-speed autonomous mobility on highways.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
4 Mar. 2025
Articles Related to fiddling
Cite this Entry
“Fiddling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fiddling. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.
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