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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of trivial While some animal vocal communication features trivial compositionality, researchers used to assume that nontrivial compositionality was unique to humans. Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2025 In some cases, these sequences are as meaningful as their individual words, a type of structure called trivial compositionality. Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2025 Philosophers are in a unique place to solve this riddle as current events are largely trivial in their work. Theodore McDarrah, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025 It may be generally dismissed as trivial, but Bernstein conducted it with characterful nostalgia and Dudamel has found in it vibrant new spirit. Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for trivial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trivial
Adjective
  • In some cases, lawyers said students had their legal statuses altered for minor traffic violations, such as unpaid parking tickets.
    Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 16 May 2025
  • Nina and Jim are forced to work overtime to re-center key story components that get lost amid more minor twists and turns.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • Despite a slight deceleration in the first quarter of 2025, the growth remained positive, with volume and revenue increasing by 1.1% and 1.52% respectively.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 3 May 2025
  • Several rivers that have been flooded in Northern Texas could see a slight bump in water levels over the weekend, according to the National Water Prediction Service.
    Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 3 May 2025
Adjective
  • The Court of International Trade previously rejected the small businesses' request to temporarily pause the tariffs while their lawsuit went forward, but then quickly scheduled Tuesday’s court hearing to decide whether to rule against the tariffs or impose a longer-term pause.
    Dietrich Knauth, USA Today, 14 May 2025
  • Instead, Atkinson took up golf for the first time and renewed his connection to scientific research, not the least of which was how a small white ball repeatedly avoids a hole in the ground.
    Barbara Bry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • Chris Lombardi, founder of Matador Records, recalls first pitching Perry’s idea to Stephen Malkmus, the band’s notoriously laconic chief songwriter, singer, guitarist and nominal leader.
    Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2025
  • What’s more, most state parks have no admission fee while a few charge a nominal fee of a few dollars.
    Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
Adjective
  • At the time, Colter believed that Russell (Jensen Ackles) was responsible for killing Dad, and Mom did little to dissuade him.
    Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 4 May 2025
  • His use of a century’s old wartime law to deport undocumented migrants with little or no due process to a notorious prison in El Salvador under scrutiny after the administration deported at least one migrant there by mistake.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 May 2025
Adjective
  • As a result, defendants in Colorado’s municipal courts can face much longer sentences than those in state court for the same petty offenses, The Denver Post previously found.
    Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 16 May 2025
  • Each encounter brings four options for how to beat that opponent, a prime opportunity to make petty jokes.
    Jayna Bardahl, New York Times, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • The law at stake might also seem relatively unimportant.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 7 May 2025
  • Protect your time and use something like the Eisenhower Matrix to let go of nonurgent or unimportant activities.
    Denise Russo, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • In the images, the monuments engraved with species’ names rise like canyon walls above tiny, almost insignificant humans.
    Keridwen Cornelius, New York Times, 3 May 2025
  • Recommended Viewing Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) Then come the other members of the Thunderbolts team who have smaller — yet not insignificant — roles in the movie.
    Barry Levitt, Vulture, 1 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Trivial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trivial. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

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