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
The two deaths join a long list of other instances of Black Americans dying in interactions with police after accusations of petty criminal offenses.
—
Travis Loller,
Arkansas Online,
20 June 2026
Walking door-to-door, Ferguson emphasizes the need to address housing affordability, and forget divisive, petty Republican culture war politics.
—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
20 June 2026
In 2026, Trump has made America about himself — about his petty wants and needs, about his aesthetic vision, about his visage on banners, currency and passports, about his ideas on art and culture and history.
—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
The conversations on the House floor in January 2023 offer a view into the inner workings of and petty feuds in Congress that are seldom seen by the public.
—
Zak Hudak,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for petty
Travis Loller,
Arkansas Online,
20 June 2026
Walking door-to-door, Ferguson emphasizes the need to address housing affordability, and forget divisive, petty Republican culture war politics.
—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
20 June 2026
In 2026, Trump has made America about himself — about his petty wants and needs, about his aesthetic vision, about his visage on banners, currency and passports, about his ideas on art and culture and history.
—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
The conversations on the House floor in January 2023 offer a view into the inner workings of and petty feuds in Congress that are seldom seen by the public.
—
Zak Hudak,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for petty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for petty
Adjective
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Name the worry out loud, then choose a small boundary that protects your energy, such as turning off notifications during a demanding task.
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People milled about clutching small rainbow flags from the human rights organization Outright International.
Adjective
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Los Angeles stretches its NL West lead to 11 games and maintains MLB’s best record as Ohtani’s star power turns Sacramento’s nominal home crowd into a roaring Dodgers road show.
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The model produces outputs within nominal parameters, but those outputs reflect market conditions that are seconds or minutes stale.
Adjective
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They are hired hands and stewards of other people’s capital, with no desire to becoming embroiled in internecine squabbles between clashing advocates, parochial activists, and plain opportunists latching on to the moment.
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In the most parochial place that ever was or ever will be, authenticity functions as a means of psychic gatekeeping, and someone who doesn’t speak the lingua Francona isn’t someone who’s worth listening to when the game’s on.
Adjective
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There's a marginal risk of severe weather near the Twin Cities, with a slight risk in the central and northwestern part of the state.
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Man, to see that Curaçao player — in a moment that’s quite important to him, that is earned over so many years of effort — give a slight nod to the invisible man, that warms my heart and brings a smile to my face.
Adjective
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Many of Haaland’s bags are actually Haut à Courroies (HAC), the model that the Birkin is based off, but with a slightly taller and narrower profile.
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But with 10,000 baby boomers reportedly retiring every day and millions of businesses approaching a transition point, the window to get it right is narrow.
Adjective
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These statements are not trivial.
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My polite reply to her email doesn't amount to anything more than a trivial note.
Adjective
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Yet at the individual and family level, there was little.
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For example, when the question comes up if a certain weird little alien on a space bus who sounds unmistakably like Seth Rogen is actually Rogen.
Adjective
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In less trifling hands, there’s no telling what these tools could do, are doing now.
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Meanwhile, that global temperature record that DiCaprio mentioned in his acceptance speech in 2016 seems almost trifling compared to what has happened since.
Cite this Entry
“Petty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/petty. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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