trivial man

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "trivial man" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a person who is perceived as unimportant or lacking depth in character or intellect. Example: "In discussions about philosophy, he often dismissed the ideas of the trivial man who only focused on mundane topics."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Whatever else Brown might be, he was not a trivial man, or a worldly one: he was not a merchant with a Sunday cause.

The New Yorker

His upbraiding of Brand comes after Jeremy Paxman accused the comedian of being a "trivial man" in a fierce exchange on Newsnight last week.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

A few weeks later, he was grilled on Newsnight by Jeremy Paxman: who was he to advocate revolution, a here-today, gone-tomorrow comedian, an apathetic whinger who couldn't even be arsed to exercise his democratic right, a "very trivial man" who believed in nothing?

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The changes introduced start with the seemingly trivial (men forced to wear socks), and even afford some comic moments: boys banned from playing football instead play matches with an imaginary ball.

The Guardian - Film

Who said that? "I am learning nothing in this trivial world of men.

Independent

I'm not at all surprised by the energetic spin of Smulders's performance; I noticed her aptitude for subtle comedy in the otherwise trivial "Delivery Man".

The New Yorker

His disgrace at Naples was redeemed two years later at the battle of Copenhagen, not just by the famous naval victory, but by a masterly diplomatic settlement immediately afterwards.Mr Knight describes well how Nelson was, in the words of a contemporary, "in some respects, as trivial a man as ever made a name".

The Economist

Eileen Chang's interest is personal not political and her focus on "trivial things between men and women", at a time when her contemporaries were more interested in fiction for ideological ends, earned her scorn though a large readership.

The Guardian - Books

There were trivial differences between men and women in age (p = 0.07), training history (p = 0.23), and personal bests at racing distances between 1 mile and 10 km as represented by IAAF scores [37] (p = 0.82).

Sports Medicine - Open

While it acknowledges there are people who cheat the system, others have been punished because they did not understand the rules, or for trivial reasons – including one man sanctioned for writing on the wrong side of a form.

Independent

It is trivial because the straw man that Theobald attacks in a text largely formulated in convoluted legalese, is that significant sequence similarity might arise by chance as opposed to descent with modification.

Biology Direct

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To emphasize the lack of importance use phrases like "insignificant man" or unimportant man

Common error

Avoid using "trivial man" in formal writing, as it can sound overly critical or informal. Opt for more neutral or objective terms like "unimportant individual" or "insignificant figure" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trivial man" functions as a noun phrase, where "trivial" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "man". According to Ludwig, it's used to describe someone lacking in importance or depth.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "trivial man" is a grammatically sound but infrequently used expression to describe a man considered insignificant or shallow. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, though its usage is rare, primarily appearing in news and media contexts. Alternatives like "insignificant man" or unimportant man may be more appropriate in formal settings to avoid sounding overly critical. When using "trivial man", ensure the context warrants the potentially dismissive tone to accurately reflect the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

insignificant man

Replaces "trivial" with "insignificant", emphasizing the lack of importance.

unimportant man

Substitutes "trivial" with "unimportant", highlighting the lack of significance.

petty man

Replaces "trivial" with "petty", suggesting a focus on minor or insignificant matters.

shallow man

Substitutes "trivial" with "shallow", indicating a lack of depth or substance.

superficial man

Replaces "trivial" with "superficial", stressing a concern with only the surface aspects.

frivolous man

Substitutes "trivial" with "frivolous", suggesting a lack of seriousness or purpose.

meaningless man

Replaces "trivial" with "meaningless", underscoring a lack of purpose or value.

insignificant person

Replaces "man" with the more neutral term "person", maintaining the sense of insignificance.

inconsequential individual

Uses more formal vocabulary to convey a similar meaning of unimportance.

a man of no consequence

Rephrases to emphasize the lack of impact or importance of the man.

FAQs

What does it mean to call someone a "trivial man"?

Calling someone a "trivial man" means that they are considered to be unimportant, lacking in depth, or focused on insignificant things. It can imply a lack of seriousness or purpose.

What are some synonyms for "trivial man"?

Some synonyms for "trivial man" include "insignificant man", unimportant man, "petty man", and "shallow man".

Is it appropriate to use the phrase "trivial man" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, the phrase "trivial man" can sound overly critical or informal. It's often better to use more neutral or objective alternatives in formal contexts, such as "unimportant individual".

How can I use the phrase "trivial man" in a sentence?

You can use the phrase "trivial man" to describe someone whose actions or concerns are seen as unimportant or lacking substance. For example: "He dismissed the politician as a "trivial man" focused only on self-promotion".