fiddling
Americanadjective
adjective
-
trifling or insignificant; petty
-
another word for fiddly
Etymology
Origin of fiddling
late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; see origin at fiddle, -ing 2
Vocabulary lists containing fiddling
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In the age of electrification, it’s bonkers to still be fiddling with pound-feet, horsepower and miles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026
Neville is skeptical that businesses will be fiddling around with AI products to create their own cybersecurity.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 27, 2026
I was fiddling with my phone during both expressions of loyalty, nervous that I wouldn’t get an intelligible recording of Mr. Paxton’s remarks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 2026
Take, for example, Parton’s great-grandmother, Tennessee, who kept her home open for “singing, fiddling, and buck dancing.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 22, 2026
Connor is still fiddling with the buckles attached to his booster seat, the straps across his chest; I can tell he wants to get out, to find some way to help.
From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day
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