trivialise

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "trivialise" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of making something seem less important or serious than it actually is. Example: "By laughing off the issue, he seemed to trivialise the concerns of the community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And what is most remarkable is that it does not trivialise the politics of the time.

The Guardian - Film

"Our senior officials will advise us about what exactly we should be doing, but I am not – I don't think we should trivialise the issue by saying that we're going to have a dobbing in of other students," the education minister, Christopher Pyne, said in response to questions.

The Guardian

The pool of people vulnerable to radicalisation dwarfs, yet is obscured by, the reviled "tiny minority".Of deception and delusionThese are very different contexts, but the aim of the euphemism is the same: to minimise, trivialise, make the nastiness go away.

The Economist

The Vatican has sent him for treatment but has yet to unfrock him, even after he seemed to trivialise his actions in a television interview.In this section Saintly shadows The emissions omitted Unbridled ReprintsThis pattern of indecision chimes with a persistent criticism of the 84-year-old pontiff: that he has failed to make the Vatican's civil service (the curia), work effectively.

The Economist

A simple apology is inadequate, and a fine would trivialise his misconduct by treating it as a mere question of monetary restitution".Mr Ford's suggestion is that the House should conclude a preliminary inquiry by the end of the year and should then summon the president to appear "not at the rostrum familiar to viewers from moments of triumph" but in the well of its chamber.

The Economist

His careful scholarly words also reiterated the Church's teaching that condoms trivialise sex, reducing it to a "self-administered drug", stoking promiscuity, and thus AIDS.Yet the headlines were merited.

The Economist

Nor because I want to trivialise the practice of people "taking points" for each other so that one avoids a driving ban.

Independent

Martin Barnes, the chief executive of the charity DrugScope, said: "Games like this certainly don't help people to make informed decisions about drugs, and to some extent they trivialise the significant harms caused by the illegal drug trade".

Independent

Speaking to The Independent, a spokesperson for Win Cash Live said they did not intend to cause offence or trivialise anyone's personal life.

Independent

Is it any wonder we have seen a rise in recorded violent crime in Norfolk if these types of incidents have to be logged?" Stressing that he does not want to trivialise any incident involving a victim, he went on: "I am struggling to see how someone being hit by a biscuit or brushed by a stinging nettle fits anyone's idea of a violent crime.

Independent

*ITV production meeting* "How can we trivialise the subject of rape this week then?" "Phone poll on Loose Women?".... "Brilliant.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing sensitive or serious topics, be mindful of the potential to unintentionally "trivialise" the issue through language or tone. Choose words carefully to reflect the appropriate level of gravity.

Common error

Be cautious of using humor or sarcasm when discussing serious matters, as it can unintentionally "trivialise" the subject and undermine the intended message.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "trivialise" is as a verb. It describes the action of making something seem less significant or important than it actually is. Ludwig provides numerous examples of its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "trivialise" is a verb that means to make something seem less important, serious, or complex than it actually is. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word is grammatically correct and frequently used, particularly in news and media contexts. When writing, it is important to be aware of the potential to unintentionally "trivialise" a subject and to choose language that accurately reflects its importance. While alternatives like "downplay" and "minimize" exist, "trivialise" carries a stronger connotation of dismissiveness. By understanding its nuances and common errors, writers can use "trivialise" effectively and avoid misrepresenting the significance of important issues.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

downplay

Focuses on reducing the apparent significance of something, often to minimize concern or attention.

minimize

Emphasizes reducing something to the smallest possible amount or degree.

belittle

Highlights making someone or something seem unimportant or insignificant, often in a disrespectful way.

make light of

Suggests treating something serious in a humorous or flippant manner.

disregard

Indicates a lack of attention or consideration towards something, implying it's not important.

underestimate

Involves judging something as having less value or potential than it actually does.

gloss over

Implies avoiding detailed consideration of something, typically to conceal problems or complexities.

pooh-pooh

Suggests dismissing something as being foolish or inconsequential.

discount

Highlights disregarding or reducing the importance of something.

deflate

Focuses on reducing the importance or seriousness of something, often to counter exaggeration.

FAQs

How can I use "trivialise" in a sentence?

You can use "trivialise" to describe the act of making something seem less important, serious, or complex than it actually is. For example: "The politician's comments seemed to "trivialise the concerns" of the community".

What's the difference between "downplay" and "trivialise"?

"Downplay" ("downplay") suggests reducing the apparent importance of something, while "trivialise" implies making something seem insignificant or unimportant, often when it deserves more serious consideration. Trivialise has a stronger negative connotation.

What can I say instead of "trivialise"?

You can use alternatives like "downplay", "minimize", or "belittle" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it ever appropriate to "trivialise" a serious issue?

Generally, "trivialising" a serious issue is seen as insensitive or dismissive. However, in certain contexts, such as satire or dark humor, it might be used intentionally to make a point or critique the issue in a provocative way.