trivialize

especially British, triv·i·al·ise

[triv-ee-uh-lahyz]

verb (used with object)

trivialized, trivializing 

1. to make trivial; cause to appear unimportant, trifling, etc.

trivialize

/ ˈtrɪvɪəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. (tr) to cause to seem trivial or more trivial; minimize

   he trivialized his injuries

Other Word Forms

• trivialization noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of trivialize¹

First recorded in 1840–50; trivial + -ize

Example Sentences

Some Chinese commentators have warned against trivializing the war for the sake of reaching new audiences.

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It’s trivializing what you think money and class is, which led to this one, “Upper Classy.”

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L.A. is frequently seen as a place of destruction, where the past is bulldozed and forgotten and then trivialized and romanticized.

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But critics say pairing it with footage of deportations trivializes a serious and often traumatic process.

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While “Alligator Alcatraz” has gained popularity among activists and media, Rayner herself rejects the term, wary of GOP attempts to trivialize the facility.

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Related Words

• depreciate 
• dismiss 
• laugh off 
• make light of 
• minimize 
• misprize 
• play down 
• pooh-pooh 
• underestimate 
• underplay 
• underrate 
• undervalue 

When To Use

What does trivialize mean?

Trivialize means to cause something to appear unimportant or insignificant, as in Gabe tried to trivialize the D he got in math, but his parents still grounded him.Trivialize is a verb form of the adjective trivial. It’s often used by the person being trivialized, rather than by the person doing the trivializing.Example: Do not trivialize the effort that was put into my project.