trivialise
Make seem unimportant
To trivialise is to make something seem less important, serious, or complex than it really is.
The word often carries disapproval—suggesting that significance is being unfairly diminished: Don't trivialise her concerns.
Politicians may trivialise opponents' arguments; media coverage can trivialise complex issues.
The spelling with -ise is British; American English uses trivialize.
Scornful imitation or fake
- derideMock with contempt
- disparageExpress low opinion of
- ridiculeContemptuous mocking treatment
- disdainScornful disregard
scorn · denigrate · demean · diminish · decry · discredit · disrespect · insult
Diminish stated significance
- de-emphasizeMinimize perceived significance
- understateExpress with restraint
- underplayMinimize emphasis or expression
- minimizeReduce to smallest extent
whitewash · sugarcoat · sanitize · euphemize · spin · defuse · temper · mute
Willful lack of attention
Judge too low
- underrateJudge below true merit
- underappreciateInsufficiently recognize merit
- shortchangeGive insufficient funds back
- devalueReduce perceived worth
Make smaller in degree
- flattenMake level or smooth
- caricatureExaggerated comic depiction
- stereotypeFixed oversimplified notion
- generalizeMake broadly applicable
schematize · misrepresent · distort · decontextualize · vulgarize · bowdlerize · cheapen · sensationalize
mock
Scornful imitation or fake
disdain · scorn · denigrate · demean · diminish · decry · discredit · disrespect · insult · belittle
soft-pedal
Diminish stated significance
- de-emphasizeMinimize perceived significance
- understateExpress with restraint
- underplayMinimize emphasis or expression
minimize · whitewash · sugarcoat · sanitize · euphemize · spin · defuse · temper · mute
disregard
Willful lack of attention
underestimate
Judge too low
- underrateJudge below true merit
- underappreciateInsufficiently recognize merit
- shortchangeGive insufficient funds back
devalue · depreciate · lowball · misjudge
reduce
Make smaller in degree
- flattenMake level or smooth
- caricatureExaggerated comic depiction
- stereotypeFixed oversimplified notion
generalize · schematize · misrepresent · distort · decontextualize · vulgarize · bowdlerize · cheapen · sensationalize
trivialisemagnify
Increase perceived size
emphasize · emphasise · amplify · aggrandize · exaggerate
trivialisetake seriously
Treat as significant
honour · honor · respect · give weight to · dignify
trivialisehighlight
Most notable part
spotlight · foreground · accentuate · underscore · stress
trivialize, triviality, trivialities, trivialized, trivializes, trivializing, trivialises, trivialising, trivialization