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trivial Definition

triv·ial (trivē əl)

adjective

  1. of little or no importance; insignificant; trifling
  2. Rare commonplace

Etymology: L trivialis, of the crossroads, hence commonplace < trivium, place where three roads meet < tri-, tri- + via, road: see via

trivial Related Forms

trivi·al·ism′ noun trivi·ally adverb

trivial Synonyms

trivial

modif.

trivial Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • pursuit: They try to confine our imaginations to trivial pursuits without danger to their rule.
  • topology: However, solutions like black holes, have a Euclidean geometry with non trivial topology.
  • task: Selecting a cord blood bank is not a trivial task.
  • matter: A tenant has no right to withhold rent for trivial matters of repair.
  • offense: In this position he reduced the number of trivial offenses for which capital punishment was the sentence.
  • undertaking: This is not a trivial undertaking, it is a major part of the PhD study.

Modifying Another Word

  • seemingly: Only in such a situation do seemingly trivial problems arise that in reality may determine the success or failure of a system.
  • comparatively: Works requiring faculties vary from the comparatively trivial to the major.
  • relatively: Please do not expect them to deal with relatively trivial matters which could or should be sorted out by your son or daughter.
  • however: Do not hesitate, however trivial you may consider the request.
  • apparently: On such occasions some apparently trivial act would put me on my guard.
  • utterly: However, it emphasized that although the final straw may be relatively insignificant, it must not be utterly trivial.

Infinitive complement

implement: This is trivial to implement, but not suited to fine control.

Used with adjective complement

  • seem: Some books on being a witch seem trivial, more about fashion than faith, slightly dubious.
  • appear: The antiseptic was so strong that tho one part in 25,000 might appear trivial there had been prosecutions for one in 100,000.
  • consider: A side effect doctors may consider trivial might be totally unacceptable to a patient.
  • regard: All details will be recorded and no incident will be regarded as trivial.
  • sound: Not speaking big names sounds pretty trivial to me.

Preposition: in

comparison: Things that were once so important now seem trivial in comparison.

Preposition: by

comparison: The scope and impact of arbitrary penalties would make speed cameras trivial by comparison.