PIFFLE Synonyms: 166 Similar and Opposite Words

piffle 1 of 2

noun

Definition of piffle

as in nonsense

language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense the belief that soda is made out of acid is just piffle

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

piffle

2 of 2

verb

as in to muddle

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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 piffle

Noun

That may not sound like a virtue, but in a world where horror comes either overloaded with metaphor or reduced to bloody piffle, Cregger valiantly navigates an unnerving middle way. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025 The irony of the lightweight piffle being resurrected 26 years later isn’t lost on the group. — Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 21 July 2023 The whole story now seems like so much piffle, except for the sons who lost their mother and a princess who lost her life. — John Anderson, WSJ, 7 Oct. 2021 People who are too cowardly to put their names behind their allegations are hiding in the shadows, using the anonymity of dark money laws to try to raise doubts in the minds of voters by spreading inflammatory charges that amount to piffle. — cleveland, 12 Sep. 2021 The fact that all those involved in discussing this question have heads full of tosh and piffle does not make for productive debates. — Salman Rushdie, The New Yorker, 16 Nov. 2020

Verb

And what The New Yorker saw happening most of all was Charlie Chaplin, who figures prominently in the magazine’s first year, in contexts ranging from pithy to piffling. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025 The Ritz, a smart London hotel where Margaret Thatcher spent her last days, is in fine fettle, turning a neat annual profit and valued in the region of £800m—not bad for a property bought for a piffling £75m in 1995. — The Economist, 31 Oct. 2019

Recent Examples of Synonyms for piffle

Noun

Statham, who turned 59 this summer and is still in incredible shape, performs on his usual high-octane, no-time-for-nonsense level.

— Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 24 Aug. 2026
The nonsense began last year as a stunt tied to a cryptocurrency group, but more recently has been linked to groups protesting league policies.

— Greg Cote August 23, Miami Herald, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of nonsense

Verb

This year’s group is setting up to be one of the more difficult puzzles for Bills general manager Brandon Beane to solve, as the bubble is muddled across the roster.

— Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Joseph’s schemes can muddle the data, because his zone defense often comes with man-to-man principles.

— Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of muddle

Noun

The government still has not come up with a solution to the mountainous piles of rotting garbage that accumulate on the streets for months.

— Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026
One of the nurses tried to cover up the error by fishing the empty bottle of the muscle relaxant out of the garbage and taking it home.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of garbage

Noun

This comes at the expense of no movement in the wrist, but to be fair, having the lightsaber pointed in any other direction would look rubbish.

— Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Only construction waste will be accepted at the landfill such as, brush and rubbish, concrete, brick, rock, wood, paper, plastics, cardboard and roofing shingles and tiles.

— Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2026

Definition of rubbish

Verb

Only a blundering idiot could spoil such an alliance and threaten damage to Florida’s economy.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
The Team Penske star just needed a moment to vent on his team radio about a pit crew blunder before charging from 17th to first for his second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of blunder

Noun

Who Framed Roger Rabbit, which was directed by Robert Zemeckis with animation overseen by Richard Williams, takes every aspect of itself, even the zany silliness of cartoons, completely seriously, while never losing sight of the fun.

— James Grebey, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Despite the silliness, the episode does feature some very emotional moments for Spock.

— Joe Otterson, Variety, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of silliness

Browse Nearby Words

piety

piffle

piffled

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“Piffle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piffle. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of piffle

noun

verb

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