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
And unfortunately for everyone who would like to see Belichick inducted in-person, the 73-year-old coach is currently at the height of his petty powers.
—
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
Weeks before the closing announcement, blame fell on the store’s lack of shopping carts, the closure of self-checkout lanes and a visible rise in shoplifting and petty crime.
—Mars King, Twin Cities, 17 Sep. 2025
One person shared their own petty revenge story from a decade ago.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
In the scope of history, this bickering over NFL theatrics is absurdly petty.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for petty
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
Weeks before the closing announcement, blame fell on the store’s lack of shopping carts, the closure of self-checkout lanes and a visible rise in shoplifting and petty crime.
—Mars King, Twin Cities, 17 Sep. 2025
One person shared their own petty revenge story from a decade ago.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
In the scope of history, this bickering over NFL theatrics is absurdly petty.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for petty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for petty
Adjective
-
Out-of-state travel that year, though, saw a small decrease compared to 2023.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Ohio State University, which enrolls the most international students in Ohio, reported a 37% drop in first-year international students and a slightly smaller number of total international students this year.—
David Ferrara,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Bills for Medicaid recipients are supposed to be sent to Medicaid, not the patients, who typically pay a nominal amount, if anything, for their care.—
Rae Ellen Bichell,
Fortune,
29 Sep. 2025
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The courts are open to JCCOC members, though guests can accompany for a nominal fee and decide whether to join.—
Greg Mellen,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Aquila served as a parochial vicar in two parishes from 1976 to 1982 and then as pastor at Denver’s Guardian Angels Parish from 1982 to 1987.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
19 Sep. 2025
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Or if that is not parochial enough, there are some decent Carabao Cup ties on Tuesday, with Manchester United’s conquerors Grimsby Town going to Sheffield Wednesday and Crystal Palace hosting Millwall, a replay of last season’s bruising FA Cup clash.—
Matt Slater,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This marked a slight increase on figures from August, during which time Moscow claimed to have downed 2,786 Ukrainian drones at an average rate of nearly 90 per day.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
1 Oct. 2025
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International undergraduate enrollment stayed the same, with a slight increase in international freshmen, Miner said.—
David Ferrara,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Inflation could feature heavily in midterm elections next year, as the Republican Party looks to defend narrow majorities in the House and Senate.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
27 Sep. 2025
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The meandering layout of Milan predates cars, so expect to get your steps in on the narrow and winding roads.—
Abbey Hudetz,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
For Washington, this was no trivial matter.—
Maurizio Valsania,
The Conversation,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Afterward, a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) investigation concluded that the economic impact was small, but not trivial.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But China’s economic data offers little confirmation that a genuine and sustainable rebound is underway, market watchers said.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
29 Sep. 2025
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Reeves and Winter are often swallowed up by the bottomless void their characters occupy, with very little room to let loose and play.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Talk of mounting nuclear readiness towards Russia, which has more atomic weapons than any other country in the world, could overshadow more trifling domestic matters, like the Epstein scandal, for instance.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
2 Aug. 2025
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Pixar has long stood out by bringing something less trifling to theatergoing families.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
15 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Petty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/petty. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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