footling 1 of 2

adjective

ˈfü-tᵊl-iŋ How to pronounce footling (audio)
Definition of footlingnext
as in nominal
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention the assistant's job was to shield the president from such footling problems

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

footling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of footle
as in dawdling
to spend time doing nothing spent the morning footling about while others were working

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example 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 footling
Adjective
By comparison with previous Establishment Clause cases, however, this lawsuit looked footling and rather mean. — Barton Swaim, WSJ, 21 June 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for footling
  1. nominal
  2. dawdling
  3. slight
  4. loafing
  5. piddling
  6. idling
  7. trifling
  8. lounging
Adjective
  • Municipal compost operations tend only to accept leaves generated by that town and may also provide small quantities of finished compost to residents for free or at a nominal charge, according to DEEP.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Assuming interest rates of 4% to 5%, Swagel estimated that nominal GDP growth would have to reach 7%-8%, and real GDP growth would have to hit 5%-6% in order to stabilize the debt.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of nominal
Verb
  • Gvardiol looked jittery early on, rallied a little to break up some dangerous Porto attacks, but then started giving the ball away again and was booked for a needless pull after being caught dawdling in possession.
    — Thom Harris, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Further, there’s no excuse for Congress to continue dawdling on farm policy.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025
Definition of dawdling
Adjective
  • The two remained locked in a tight race as early voting nears with Talarico having a slight edge in most polls.
    — Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The bodice of the top was a crisp white, while the sleeves were cast in vibrant yellow, a slight nod to the bold color trend for the season.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of slight
Verb
  • Kids who used to run to the field excited to play, suddenly started loafing to the field wearing their crocs with their heads buried in their phones.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
  • The pair had been loafing for some time among a grove of apple trees on a private residence in Payson.
    — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Definition of loafing
Adjective
  • Then, the pandemic reduced the schedule to 60 games and Eddie got a piddling 37%.
    — Star Tribune, Star Tribune, 3 Dec. 2020
  • Millions of additional claims are expected to stream in from around the country over the coming weeks, while hiring remains piddling.
    — Patricia Cohen, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2020
Definition of piddling
Verb
  • Diesel engine idling and high-risk industrial activity across the street from homes and parks would bring air, noise and light pollution.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026
  • And Rovell quickly discovered Kobe’s mind was incapable of idling, even during dead-of-night text exchanges.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of idling
Adjective
  • Cut to terra ferma, where the almighty rainstorm soaking the streets of Rome seems a comparatively trifling bit of weather.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 7 Sep. 2026
  • In less trifling hands, there’s no telling what these tools could do, are doing now.
    — CHRIS COLIN, Wired News, 18 May 2026
Definition of trifling
Verb
  • At the stern, the line’s signature ocean lounge is fitted with fold-out terraces that open to create an expansive waterside area for lounging or watersports.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Your Photography by Kimberly Kalan Maison Flambeau has multiple outdoor dining and lounging spots, the most notable of which are its splash pool and sauna.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of lounging

Browse Nearby Words

footlights
footling
footlocker
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Cite this Entry

“Footling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/footling. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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