Trifling attempt to pursue friend (6)
I believe the answer is:
paltry
'trifling' is the definition.
(I know that trifling can be written as paltry)
'attempt to pursue friend' is the wordplay.
'attempt to' becomes 'try' (I've seen this in other clues).
'pursue' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'friend' becomes 'pal' (pal can mean a friend).
'try' after 'pal' is 'PALTRY'.
(Other definitions for paltry that I've seen before include "Mean - worthless" , "Insignificant, trifling" , "Minor, insignificant" , "Petty - trifling" , "Meagre; petty, trivial" .)