pettifogging

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pettifogging
Adjective
  • Injuries can range from a slight stretching of the ligament to a complete tear, where the knee becomes unstable.
    Paul McClure May 31, New Atlas, 31 May 2025
  • By virtue of no state income tax, Florida, Tampa Bay, Vegas, Dallas and Nashville do enjoy a slight competitive advantage, but the first 14 Cup champions of the cap era didn’t share that same edge.
    Murat Ates, New York Times, 31 May 2025
Adjective
  • The lives of these accomplished, seemingly independent women revolve around men, petty antics and low-stakes squabbles.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 29 May 2025
  • But the most powerful response isn’t rage or petty retaliation.
    Suneeta Motala, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Adjective
  • McCartney, who played a residency at New York’s tiny Bowery Ballroom back in February, has no tour dates presently on his 2025 calendar.
    Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2025
  • 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
  • Yeti's tiny stacking mugs come in a minute 4-ounce size, or a 6-ounce size with a handle.
    Adrienne So, Wired News, 1 May 2025
  • 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
  • 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
  • Every interaction, no matter how trivial, could end up being a bit.
    Zak Keefer, New York Times, 30 May 2025
  • This explains why trivial choices, like what to wear or eat and many more throughout your day can leave you mentally exhausted before tackling important tasks.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
Adjective
  • Mia said she was kept off-kilter working around the clock for Combs with little sleep.
    Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 30 May 2025
  • The cuts could include the elimination of bus routes that get relatively little use and less frequent service on some popular routes.
    David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2025
Adjective
  • Then, the pandemic reduced the schedule to 60 games and Eddie got a piddling 37%.
    Star Tribune, Star Tribune, 3 Dec. 2020
  • 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Pettifogging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pettifogging. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.

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