as in slight
old-fashioned
worrying too much about details that are minor or not important
pettifogging lawyers
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pettifogging
Adjective
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Monday saw some dips and slight drops, but the market rebounded and closed up almost 1%.—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025 -
This was a shift from May, when Democrats had a slight advantage—48 percent planned to support Democrats, while 45 percent leaned toward Republicans, according to the pollster.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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The film is described as an intense drama about two Palestinian refugees living in Athens, caught between petty scams and the hope of a better life in Germany.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
21 June 2025
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In the end, what started as a petty doormat rivalry has turned into something much more joyful.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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Tech has a tiny presence on the Southeast Asia 500, generating just under 3% of the list’s total revenue.—
Lionel Lim,
Fortune,
22 June 2025
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What started as a tiny general store selling locally made goods and sustainable living products has expanded to include a full-service coffee bar and bakery.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
21 June 2025
Adjective
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Festival organizers respected the lineup’s schedule, with set changes taking place with minute precision and without interruption.—
Billboard Italy,
Billboard,
19 June 2025
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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
Adjective
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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
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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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However, legal experts say this restriction, like other ethics laws, wouldn’t apply to the President or Vice-President, an exemption that is far from trivial.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
23 June 2025
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But Philadelphia needs a big upgrade, not a trivial one.—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 June 2025
Adjective
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The issue passed with opposition from Republicans and 18 skeptical Democrats in the House but with relatively little public outcry.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
23 June 2025
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Presidents have relatively little influence on oil and gasoline prices generally.—
Rachel Frazin,
The Hill,
23 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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“Pettifogging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pettifogging. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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