as in negligibility
the quality or state of being unimportant
the astonishing pettiness of most of the things that she fusses over
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of pettiness
The Denver Post, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2025
That makes tonight's game way more about pride and even petty revenge than the actual standings.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
But what makes these petty retaliations concerning isn’t their immediate economic impact — renamed coffees and boycotted Teslas won’t crash the global economy.
—Jackie Snow, Quartz, 7 Apr. 2025
The Trump administration has focused on deporting people for petty offenses or even political positions, Weinrib explained.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pettiness
Adjective
As a result, defendants in Colorado’s municipal courts can face much longer sentences than those in state court for the same petty offenses, The Denver Post previously found.
—The Denver Post, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2025
That makes tonight's game way more about pride and even petty revenge than the actual standings.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
But what makes these petty retaliations concerning isn’t their immediate economic impact — renamed coffees and boycotted Teslas won’t crash the global economy.
—Jackie Snow, Quartz, 7 Apr. 2025
The Trump administration has focused on deporting people for petty offenses or even political positions, Weinrib explained.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pettiness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pettiness
Adjective
-
Although set in the small city, the movie was reportedly filmed in several locations in Louisiana.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
2 May 2025
-
India also unleashed several punitive measures against Pakistan, including suspending its participation in a water-sharing treaty that is critical for its smaller neighbor.—
Anupreeta Das,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
Adjective
-
As the Signal chats showed, there are differences of opinion within Trump’s national-security team, and much more serious friction with the administration’s nominal allies in Europe.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2025
-
The new duties raise the nominal U.S. tariff rate on China to 54%.—
Alain Sherter,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The plum political prize, of course, will be deciding how congressional districts are drawn, perhaps giving this parochial court a major say in which party—and its preferred Speaker—gets to run the U.S. House.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
31 Mar. 2025
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There is nothing more parochial or bland than being a soft, white Anglican kid from Ottawa.—
Graydon Carter,
The Atlantic,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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This lightweight cream truly melts right in without the slightest bit of cast.—
Sarah Han,
Allure,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Not when your opponent is spending its each and every waking moment scouring film for even the slightest advantage.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The compositions prioritize headspace for the sky to take over the frame during exterior shots, communicating Rico’s feeling of insignificance against the immensity of what burdens him.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
27 Jan. 2025
-
Without that, you'd be relegated to insignificance.—
John Mac Ghlionn,
Newsweek,
13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Under the new Medicare Advantage plan, retirees would face narrower provider networks and potentially higher out-of-pocket expenses for out-of-network care.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 May 2025
-
Spotlights provide a narrower beam of light that is better for seeing long distances.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
1 May 2025
Adjective
-
Philosophers are in a unique place to solve this riddle as current events are largely trivial in their work.—
Theodore McDarrah,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
-
It may be generally dismissed as trivial, but Bernstein conducted it with characterful nostalgia and Dudamel has found in it vibrant new spirit.—
Mark Swed,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Never issue false assurances, but don’t dwell on trivialities either.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
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But those details are mere trivialities to the chefs who have turned their love for Rangoons into mozzarella sticks, pasta, melts and more.—
Mehr Singh,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pettiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pettiness. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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