1
as in small
not broad or open in views or opinions
a petty little town that was not ethnically diverse and very happy about the situation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nominal
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention
obsessed over even petty problems
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of petty
Trump's insults carry more weight now No one expects anything more than cheap, petty insults from Trump.
—
Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 18 July 2025
Alas, to watch Unchained was to immerse yourself in the petty, small-potatoes drama surrounding French cycling—and to absorb this not-so vital information via subtitles.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 16 July 2025
For the true believers, the allure of the rock transcends such petty squabbles.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
The Moon is opposite Mercury in your sign, and this can trigger petty squabbles.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for petty
Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 18 July 2025
Alas, to watch Unchained was to immerse yourself in the petty, small-potatoes drama surrounding French cycling—and to absorb this not-so vital information via subtitles.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 16 July 2025
For the true believers, the allure of the rock transcends such petty squabbles.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
The Moon is opposite Mercury in your sign, and this can trigger petty squabbles.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for petty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for petty
Adjective
-
Bringing bold wallpaper into a small space can be a fun way to add a bit of a ‘wow’ factor, and that is precisely what Laws did in this 40-square-foot half-bath.—
Lennie Omalza,
The Courier-Journal,
25 July 2025
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The Kitchen by Cooking with Que is open to the public Fridays and Saturdays as a small café. Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
25 July 2025
Adjective
-
Entry is for members only but available for a nominal fee.—
Susan Stapleton,
The Tennessean,
31 July 2025
-
Allensworth said her team performed more than 60 official mission simulations, both with nominal and off-nominal situations to best equip the autonomous lunar lander for unforeseeable circumstances.—
Karoline Leonard,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
Adjective
-
South suburban committee members, meanwhile, showed parochial loyalty to Kelly.—
Rick Pearson,
Chicago Tribune,
19 July 2025
-
In a chamber fraught with parochial interests and personalities in spades, the sprint to finish this by the July 4 holiday is going to be clipped.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
22 May 2025
Adjective
-
Car buyers are benefiting from a slight downturn in interest rates, too.—
Susan Tompor,
Freep.com,
31 July 2025
-
Students' reading scores statewide, however, only showed slight drops from 2022 to 2024, but showed a continued lack of recovery from pandemic lows.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
Adjective
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But its critics say EA continues to make narrow and curious choices that neglect both systemic issues and the complexly human reasons people give, as a battle for billions rages on.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
24 July 2025
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That choice is one of the starkest demonstrations that the regime’s priority of narrow self-interest over the global good won’t be changing anytime soon.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
24 July 2025
Adjective
-
But there is no man with a hammer; the happy man lives at his ease, and trivial daily cares faintly agitate him like the wind in the aspen-tree — and all goes well.—
Philip Metres
July 30,
Literary Hub,
30 July 2025
-
Compared to these leaps in capability, specs like a cabin atmosphere of 2,900 feet—even while cruising at 41,000 feet—may seem trivial.—
Michael Verdon,
Robb Report,
26 July 2025
Adjective
-
Since all the council members sit on the budget committee that voted and heard budget, little, if anything, in the budget is expected to change.—
Scott Wartman,
The Enquirer,
30 July 2025
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The 2023 impeachment trial of Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who was acquitted in a Senate impeachment trial on a range of charges including bribery and abuse of office, appeared to have done little to undermine his standing among voters.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
Adjective
-
Pixar has long stood out by bringing something less trifling to theatergoing families.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
15 July 2025
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Frankly, the more trifling the crime, the better this franchise’s comedy aspirations would work.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Petty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/petty. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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