as in slight
old-fashioned
worrying too much about details that are minor or not important
pettifogging lawyers
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pettifogging
Adjective
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Bure may not have meant it as a slight, but one of the more notable offenders was Growing Pains, which costarred her brother, Kirk Cameron.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
13 June 2025 -
In a slight twist on the usual, the chefs not only get to choose their own sous-chefs, but only those sous-chefs have been flown to Italy for the occasion.—
Caroline Framke,
Vulture,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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Which party is willing to set aside petty differences and ego, and work in the interests of American prosperity?—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
6 June 2025
-
This Christlike journey of scapegoating and torment ends in comeuppance for the haters and doubters, whose petty provocations tend to evoke a Bond villain in adolescence.—
Joshua Hunt,
Vulture,
5 June 2025
Adjective
-
In 1972, the company switched to Smith, naming the shoes in his honor and printing a tiny picture of his mustachioed face on them.—
Sam Farmer,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2025
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Don't give in to temptation and cross over with your mower—not even a tiny bit.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
8 June 2025
Adjective
-
Recognized by researchers as one of the most cost-effective interventions in global health, the control and elimination of NTDs accounts for a minute portion of U.S. foreign assistance — less than 1%.—
Patrick Adams,
NPR,
5 June 2025
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As such, even the most seemingly minute details within your home’s decor are actually of vital importance.—
Rowan Briggs,
Mercury News,
1 May 2025
Adjective
-
Frankly, the more trifling the crime, the better this franchise’s comedy aspirations would work.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Apr. 2025
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With that much water needed for even the most trifling tasks, the natural question becomes: How does that water reach those data centers, let alone the world’s farms and factories?—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
28 May 2010
Adjective
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Matter These are not trivial or speculative technologies.—
Virginie Berger,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
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If the buyer is complaining about cosmetic or trivial things, like the dark blue wall in the main bathroom or the leaky kitchen faucet, think twice about acquiescing.—
Lew Sichelman,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2025
Adjective
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An award-winning toy creator and a doctor have teamed up to launch a new company that manufactures products designed to make health care less scary for little kids, and less stressful for parents.—
Joan Verdon,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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If pop culture is to be believed, nothing good has ever come from a couple dashing off to a cute little cabin in the woods.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
10 June 2025
Adjective
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Then, the pandemic reduced the schedule to 60 games and Eddie got a piddling 37%.—
Star Tribune,
Star Tribune,
3 Dec. 2020
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Millions of additional claims are expected to stream in from around the country over the coming weeks, while hiring remains piddling.—
Patricia Cohen,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2020
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Cite this Entry
“Pettifogging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pettifogging. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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