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Glite Dictionary
piddling

piddling

8.0
Very small and not important
  • adjective
  • /ˈpɪd.lɪŋ/
  • Informal
translation icon : insignificante
  • His piddling wage hardly covered the cost of living in the city.

Examples

  • The meeting was canceled due to piddling concerns that could easily be resolved later.

  • Piddling little stopover wouldn't hurt you none.

    The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1960)

  • She dismissed his complaints as piddling matters that did not deserve her attention.

Synonyms

little
vspiddling
∞ 1.0

Not very important

is more colloquial and slightly more dismissive about insignificance
trivial
vspiddling
121 3.9

Not important or serious

is more informal and highlights smallness rather than neutral tone
petty
vspiddling
120 3.7

Small and unimportant in position or power

focuses more on trivial size rather than social or rank smallness
piddly
vspiddling
  • Informal
4 7.9

A very small amount or unimportant detail

is similar but focuses more on trivial size than dismissive tone
piffling
vspiddling
1 8.6

Too small or not important to matter

is similar but emphasizes smallness rather than complete neglect
picayune
vspiddling
  • US
1 9.9

Small and not important

is informal and centers on trivial size rather than archaic tone
fiddling
vspiddling
  • Informal
7.0

Small in amount and not important

is equally informal but stresses slightness rather than casual speech
niggling
vspiddling
  • UK
7.8

A small annoying problem or worry that does not need serious attention

focuses on general smallness rather than minor persistent annoyance
footling
vspiddling
  • Archaic
9.1

Unimportant and not worth attention

stresses trivial smallness especially in casual speech rather than value
peanut
vspiddling
  • Informal
7.0

Not very important or powerful

is more literal about being small or insignificant without metaphor
lilliputian
vspiddling
9.9

Very small or unimportant

focuses on insignificance in everyday, informal contexts rather than literal size
flyspecked
vspiddling
  • Informal
7.9

A very small unimportant village or town

is broader and more informal, applying to general trivial matters
as trivial as a gnat's pee
vspiddling
  • Informal
9.9

Very unimportant and not worth worrying about

means the same low importance but in plain informal language rather than vivid idiom

Antonyms

important
∞ 1.0

A person or thing that matters a lot

significant
∞ 2.5

Important and big enough to make a difference

How Significant

minor
600 2.4
trivial
121 3.9
piddling
  • Informal
8.0
negligible
31 5.6

Surface Forms

piddling positive

Morphology

piddling = piddle (transparent) = piddle + ing

The adjective is formed from the verb 'piddle' with the regular suffix '-ing', yielding 'trifling' or 'insignificant', a directly derived meaning.

Etymology

Piddling comes from the little verb piddle, which meant 'to waste time' or 'to urinate a little', giving the picture of a very small flow or tiny thing. So, piddling now means something very small or unimportant.