Antonyms for trivial


Grammar : Adj
Spell : triv-ee-uhl
Phonetic Transcription : ˈtrɪv i əl


Definition of trivial

Origin :
  • "ordinary" (1580s); "insignificant" (1590s), from Latin trivialis "common, commonplace, vulgar," literally "of or belonging to the crossroads," from trivium "place where three roads meet," in transferred use, "an open place, a public place," from tri- "three" (see three) + via "road" (see via). The sense connection is "public," hence "common, commonplace."
  • The earliest use of the word in English was early 15c., a separate borrowing in the academic sense "of the trivium" (the first three liberal arts); from a Medieval Latin use of trivialis in the sense "of the trivium," from trivium as neuter of the Latin adjective trivius "of three roads." Cf. trivia. Related: Trivially. The board game Trivial Pursuit was released 1982 and was a craze in U.S. for several years thereafter.
  • adj not important
Example sentences :
  • You've made me your butt, your fool, your doer of trivial offices.
  • Extract from : « Viviette » by William J. Locke
  • He was a gentleman, but the trivial fact is of small avail to-day.
  • Extract from : « Within the Law » by Marvin Dana
  • And at least it was not a trivial view, nor an ill meant one.
  • Extract from : « A Treatise on Parents and Children » by George Bernard Shaw
  • His tone was as level as if he were discussing some trivial matter.
  • Extract from : « The Bacillus of Beauty » by Harriet Stark
  • On Mike's face was a map of disaster; the disaster might be trivial or great.
  • Extract from : « Thoroughbreds » by W. A. Fraser
  • What had seemed so real to him then he feared to-day to face, as trivial and weak.
  • Extract from : « Chip, of the Flying U » by B. M. Bower
  • The subjects were trivial in themselves, and repeated endlessly.
  • Extract from : « The Leopard Woman » by Stewart Edward White
  • My smallest action, my most trivial habit, was familiar to them.
  • Extract from : « In the Valley » by Harold Frederic
  • Grant laid a finger upon his arm and drawled his solution of a trivial mystery.
  • Extract from : « Good Indian » by B. M. Bower
  • But the loss of her mother was to Hetty a trivial one, in comparison with the loss of her father.
  • Extract from : « Hetty's Strange History » by Anonymous

Synonyms for trivial

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019