trivialize

Trivialize is a verb meaning to make something appear less important or significant than it actually is, or to treat it as trivial. It can also refer to oversimplifying a complex issue or reducing its seriousness. The word is typically used transitively: to trivialize something or someone, as in "to trivialize a problem" or "to trivialize someone’s experience."

Etymology: Trivialize derives from trivial, from Latin trivialis meaning ordinary or commonplace; the sense of "not serious" developed in English. The noun "triviality" and the related verb "trivialize" share that lineage.

Usage notes: Trivialization often carries a negative connotation, implying dismissiveness or lack of empathy. It is commonly discussed in contexts involving pain, trauma, discrimination, or scientific complexity, where acknowledging all dimensions matters. However, in some analytical contexts, reduction of a model or explanation to its simplest form may be helpful.

Related terms include trivial, triviality, trivially, and trivializer; related verbs include downplay, minimize, and oversimplify. Antonyms include emphasize, highlight, and elucidate.