fiddling

1 of 3

adjective

fid·​dling ˈfid-liŋ  ˈfi-dᵊl-iŋ 

: trifling, petty

a fiddling excuse

fiddling

2 of 3

noun

: the act of playing on a fiddle

… Schwarz brings up an orchestra member to do some country fiddling …

—Heidi Waleson

One of the most compelling qualities of Southern fiddling is the rhythm.

—Augusta Heritage Center

fiddling

3 of 3

present participle of fiddle entry 2

Synonyms of fiddling

Adjective

• minor
• small
• little
• slight

Examples of fiddling in a Sentence

Adjective

you should delegate these fiddling matters to your staff so that you can focus on more important issues

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Her fiddling is a looser, freer, more accessible type of memorialization—less a notation than an invocation, a summoning of her homeland’s spirit. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 1 June 2026

Colorado’s lone goal was a result of some Matt Wells tactical fiddling — and Keegan Rosenberry playing like his job’s on the line — gone right. — Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2026

As the options for facial fiddling have become more accessible, the face is increasingly regarded as an image to be perfected. — Valerie Monroe, Allure, 15 Jan. 2026

For those deep in the Apple ecosystem who want headphones that just work without all the fiddling, the Beats Solo 4 make sense with a 25% discount. — PC Magazine, 13 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1652, in the meaning defined above

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fiddling

• riddling