trivialize
Make seem unimportant
To trivialize is to treat something as less important or serious than it deserves.
The word implies dismissiveness—minimizing genuine concerns, suffering, or significance: Don't trivialize her fears.
Often used critically: The movie trivializes the Holocaust.
The British spelling is trivialise.
Diminish perceived importance
- diminishTo make smaller
- understateExpress with restraint
- belittleTo make something seem unimportant
- undervalueEstimate below true worth
underestimate · deemphasize · discount · overlook · neglect · soft-pedal · play down · underplay
Express low opinion of
- deprecateExpress earnest disapproval
- denigrateCriticize unfairly to harm
- demeanLower in standing
- devalueReduce perceived worth
discredit · cheapen · debase · degrade · defame · slander · malign · trash
Contemptuous mocking treatment
- mockScornful imitation or fake
- derideMock with contempt
- scornHostile dismissive feeling
- jeerVocal expression of scorn
taunt · lampoon · satirize · caricature · parody · belittle · snicker · laugh off
Act superior toward
look down on · talk down · condescend · snub · slight · disregard · wave away · superiority
downplay
Diminish perceived importance
- diminishTo make smaller
- understateExpress with restraint
- belittleTo make something seem unimportant
undervalue · underestimate · deemphasize · discount · overlook · neglect · soft-pedal · play down · underplay · brush off
disparage
Express low opinion of
devalue · discredit · cheapen · debase · degrade · defame · slander · malign · trash · badmouth
ridicule
Contemptuous mocking treatment
jeer · taunt · lampoon · satirize · caricature · parody · belittle · snicker · laugh off · make fun of
patronize
Act superior toward
disdain · look down on · talk down · condescend · snub · slight · disregard · wave away · superiority · haughtiness
- dismissingbrush aside, brush off, wave off, shrug off, blow off
- degradebelittle, demean, humiliate, degrade, debase
- dismissalsgo away, get out, leave, scram, beat it
- dismissdismiss, brush off, brush aside, wave away, wave off
- Reduceshrink, diminish, decrease, lessen, reduce
- softensoften, dampen, mute, muffle, tone down
trivializemagnify
Increase perceived size
emphasize · take seriously · exaggerate · highlight · exalt
triviality, trivialities, trivialized, trivializes, trivializing, trivialises, trivialising, trivialization, trivialise