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 first three charges are petty offenses punishable by 30 days in prison and up to a $5,000 fine.
—
Julia Coin
february 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2026
The daughter of a gentleman and a maid, Sophie was orphaned at a young age and forced into servitude by her own father’s wife, the staggeringly bitter and petty Lady Araminta Gun (Katie Leung).
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 26 Feb. 2026
In yet another week where individuals like me, who desperately care about public policy over petty partisan politics, were greatly disappointed, Jimmy’s provided a little hope.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 26 Feb. 2026
But smaller, thinner petty knives can swiftly find their way between joints, separating out all the parts with little to no effort.
—Jesse Raub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for petty
Julia Coin
february 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2026
The daughter of a gentleman and a maid, Sophie was orphaned at a young age and forced into servitude by her own father’s wife, the staggeringly bitter and petty Lady Araminta Gun (Katie Leung).
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 26 Feb. 2026
In yet another week where individuals like me, who desperately care about public policy over petty partisan politics, were greatly disappointed, Jimmy’s provided a little hope.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 26 Feb. 2026
But smaller, thinner petty knives can swiftly find their way between joints, separating out all the parts with little to no effort.
—Jesse Raub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for petty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for petty
Adjective
-
Although discrepancies are smaller in data-rich regions such as Western Europe and the eastern United States, where robust local monitoring has kept projections more closely calibrated, the study identifies the West Coast of North America as a region where sea levels have also been underestimated.—
Marcos Magaña,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Violas have smaller flowers and stay shorter.—
Chris McKeown,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The war with Hezbollah launched in the aftermath of the October 7 attacks never really ended, despite a nominal ceasefire that went into effect in November 2024.—
Oren Liebermann,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
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Both had incumbents with nominal primary opposition, but the primaries to select a November challenger saw big spending.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Any negative pushback in this moment will be interpreted as a small-minded and eminently self-serving response that puts parochial party interests above the interests of the country.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Democrats who opposed the bill, however, said the money would mainly go to private or parochial institutions and is part of the Republican caucus's efforts to direct money into private education.—
Keely Doll,
Louisville Courier Journal,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The slight kitten heels add a feminine touch, while the open design keeps your feet cool all day long.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Porcelain and ceramic tiles are both suitable, with porcelain offering a slight edge due to its better heat resistance.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Zero tankers transited the Strait of Hormuz Wednesday, a narrow channel just off Iran’s southern coast that’s normally packed with an armada of 60 or more ships carrying 20% of the world’s oil.—
Vanessa Yurkevich,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
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The narrow Strait is the only way for tankers to enter and exit the Persian Gulf.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Users across social media responded to the TMZ headline with a wave of sarcastic comments, each one poking at how trivial the original report seemed.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
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The difference isn’t trivial, either.—
Andre Mouchard,
Oc Register,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The historic district is just a few blocks wide, with the Gulf on one side, the Intracoastal on the other, and a walkable little downtown dotted with shops and galleries in between.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
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When three Bruins starters — Lauren Betts, Gabriela Jaquez and Charlisse Leger-Walker — joined the UCLA dance team for a halftime performance at a men’s basketball game on March 3, Leger-Walker viewed it as just a fun little bonding moment and an expansion of the team’s intentional joy.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The health factor is no trifling qualifier for a player who has missed time with shoulder and oblique injuries, in addition to that unfortunate incident with his pelvic floor.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Petty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/petty. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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