trivial

adjective

ˈtri-vē-əl How to pronounce trivial (audio)
Definition of trivialnext
1
as in minor
lacking importance why spend so much time on trivial decisions, like whether the soda should be regular or diet?

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in slight
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention figured that restaurant customers wouldn't notice such a trivial surcharge on their bill

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 The differences—native language, religious and cultural background—seemed trivial. — Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026 More importantly, Votee’s training costs, while not trivial, are still significantly smaller than frontier labs. — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026 The trivial and the momentous can be connected; small deviations can set us on larger paths. — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026 For an older defendant or someone dependent on several prescription medications, these are not trivial concerns. — Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trivial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trivial
  1. minor
  2. slight
  3. small
  4. nominal
  5. little
  6. petty
  7. unimportant
  8. insignificant
Adjective
  • Ayari returned to Fabian Hurzeler’s midfield alongside Pascal Gross in Saturday’s 1-1 home draw against Leeds United, having missed the 4-3 defeat at Chelsea with a minor injury.
    — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • All co-defendants are accused of failing to protect a minor and negligence.
    — Madeline Morrison, NBC news, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of minor
Adjective
  • The slight worry is that Zheng will run out of gas at some point after coming through the qualifying tournament and winning six matches in New York.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • For all their advantages, quantum technologies are extremely sensitive, and these devices can be thrown out of gear by the slightest changes in temperature or environmental noise.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of slight
Adjective
  • Then handle the smaller responsibilities competing for your attention.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Its compact permanent magnet motor enables a smaller pod diameter, reducing hydrodynamic drag while maintaining high propulsion performance.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of small
Adjective
  • For a nominal sum, the paper each day serves up authoritative accounts of sports events that occurred as much as a day earlier, give or take.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The calculation refers to nominal total returns, combining coupon income and changes in the bond's market price.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of nominal
Adjective
  • That’s right — after three straight Friday-night deadlines, Gameweek Four gets under way at 3pm on Saturday, handing you that little bit of extra time to agonise over the right moves for the next round of action.
    — Ben Dinnery, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Jongmin Lee, a quantum sensing scientist at SNL, has been working to build an extremely small version of this device, one that consumes very little power and can be used in the field.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of little
Adjective
  • Mehring’s characters include petty criminals, unscrupulous lawyers, Galician Jews, Freikorps heavies, local and international businessmen, Prussian generals, and the everyday citizens inhabiting the streets of Berlin’s old and rather dingy center.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Some fans and analysts pointed out that the news release looked petty.
    — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of petty
Adjective
  • The Analyst can spend all their time answering urgent but unimportant requests.
    — Dev Patnaik, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • Wright agrees that the findings shouldn’t be interpreted to mean that omega-3s are unimportant for the brain.
    — Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 14 July 2026
Definition of unimportant
Adjective
  • With the possibility of an interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve on September 16 not insignificant – and the likelihood that CD rates will rise in response – waiting could result in being able to secure a slightly higher rate.
    — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Once an $8,000 trip feels affordable, another $500 can seem insignificant.
    — byDavid Schepp, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of insignificant

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trivia
trivial
trivialities
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Cite this Entry

“Trivial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trivial. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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