What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Riddle vs Trivia - What's the difference?

riddle | trivia |

As nouns the difference between riddle and trivia

is that riddle is a verbal puzzle, mystery, or other problem of an intellectual nature while trivia is insignificant trifles of little importance, especially items of unimportant information.

As proper nouns the difference between riddle and trivia

is that riddle is {{surname|lang=en} while Trivia is the goddess of crossroads. Compare Hecate.

As a verb riddle

is to speak ambiguously or enigmatically.

riddle

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) (m), (m), from (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)
  • A verbal puzzle, mystery, or other problem of an intellectual nature.
  • :
  • *(John Milton) (1608-1674)
  • *:To wring from me, and tell to them, my secret, / That solved the riddle which I had proposed.
  • *
  • *:Elbows almost touching they leaned at ease, idly reading the almost obliterated lines engraved there. ¶ ("I never) understood it," she observed, lightly scornful. "What occult meaning has a sun-dial for the spooney? I'm sure I don't want to read riddles in a strange gentleman's optics."
    • Synonyms
    * enigma, conundrum, brain-teaser
    Derived terms
    * riddler * riddle stick * a riddle wrapped up in an enigma

    Verb

    (riddl)
  • To speak ambiguously or enigmatically.
  • To solve, answer, or explicate a riddle or question
    • Riddle me this'', meaning ''Answer the following question.

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) (m), . More at (l).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A sieve with coarse meshes, usually of wire, for separating coarser materials from finer, as chaff from grain, cinders from ashes, or gravel from sand.
  • A board with a row of pins, set zigzag, between which wire is drawn to straighten it.

    • Verb

    (riddl)
  • To put something through a .
    • You have to riddle the gravel before you lay it on the road.
  • * '>citation
  • To fill with holes like a .
    • The machinegun fire began to riddle the poor Afghanis.
  • To fill or spread throughout; to pervade.
    • Your argument is riddled with errors.

    Anagrams

    * (l)

    trivia

    English

    Noun

    (trivia)
  • insignificant trifles of little importance, especially items of unimportant information
    • These trivia ''take'' up too much of the day.
    This trivia ''takes'' up too much of the day.
  • A quiz game that involves obscure facts.
    • I joined the trivia club this semester!
  • English plurals

    • Usage notes

    * Formerly, as word derived from a Latin plural, trivia required a plural verb, as in the first usage example above. Most modern authorities accept a singular verb, and this may be the preferred usage in the US. The game (2) is always regarded as a singular noun.

    Derived terms

    * administrivia, trivial, triviality, trivialize