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I can't imagine an automotive engineer describing a new car engine as non-trivial or a painter describing his work as non-trivial.
Anyways, what words wind you guys up?
Edit: Happy Monday, btw.
leverage
edit: Oh and let's not forget Scott Adam's favorite: Synergy
Perhaps it is abused as a term by the population at large, but I'm reasonably sure it has its roots in theoretical computer science and maths. It has a meaning that is distinct from "complex". It means that something requires something more than pure mechanical verification or straightforward inspection.
A painter could use "non-trivial" in a sensible way. How much effort is involved in X? Well, it's non-trivial, because it involves more than having a look. It isn't estimating the effort, it is instead a binary classification - trivial and non-trivial.
Finally, to answer your question, I don't dislike individual words. I only dislike them once they are combined into sentences.
I have to step in here to defend "non-trivial". Perhaps it is abused as a term by the population at large, but I'm reasonably sure it has its roots in theoretical computer science and maths. It has a meaning that is distinct from "complex". It means that something requires something more than pure mechanical verification or straightforward inspection. A painter could use "non-trivial" in a sensible way. How much effo…