Definitions
- Describing a small or insignificant issue that is blown out of proportion. - Referring to a person who is overly concerned with minor details or rules. - Talking about a person who is mean-spirited or vindictive over small matters.
- Describing something that is of little importance or significance. - Referring to a matter that is easily dismissed or ignored. - Talking about a topic that is unimportant or irrelevant to the current discussion.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe things that are not important.
- 2Both words can be used to describe issues or topics.
- 3Both words can be used to describe people's behavior or attitudes.
What is the difference?
- 1Scope: Petty implies a narrow-minded focus on small details, while trivial suggests a lack of importance or relevance in a broader context.
- 2Emotion: Petty often carries a negative connotation of spite or vindictiveness, while trivial is more neutral in tone.
- 3Intensity: Petty can suggest a level of intensity or drama that trivial does not convey.
- 4Subjectivity: Petty is subjective and depends on the person's perception, while trivial is more objective and based on the actual importance of the matter.
- 5Usage: Petty is more commonly used to describe people's behavior or attitudes, while trivial is more commonly used to describe issues or topics.
Remember this!
While both petty and trivial describe things that are not important, they differ in scope, emotion, intensity, subjectivity, and usage. Petty implies a narrow-minded focus on small details with a negative connotation of spite or vindictiveness, while trivial suggests a lack of importance or relevance in a broader context with a more neutral tone.
