PETTY Synonyms: 117 Similar and Opposite Words

petty

adjective

ˈpe-tē

Definition of petty

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of petty The killing has drawn comparisons to other instances of other Black people who lost their life in cases of accusations of petty criminal offenses, such as the murder of George Floyd. — ABC News, 1 July 2026 The conversations on the House floor in January 2023 offer a view into the inner workings of and petty feuds in Congress that are seldom seen by the public. — Zak Hudak, CBS News, 19 June 2026 The Babylon Bee posted a satirical video suggesting that if a female president was mercurial — launching foreign wars, trade wars and petty feuds — and focusing on gewgaws and shoes, she’d be endlessly belittled. — Maureen Dowd, Mercury News, 23 June 2026 Walking door-to-door, Ferguson emphasizes the need to address housing affordability, and forget divisive, petty Republican culture war politics. — Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 20 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for petty

Recent Examples of Synonyms for petty

Adjective

In contrast, instruments on the FireSat satellites will be able to detect small brush and roadside fires 16 feet across.

— Eric Niiler, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
At the Cannes Film Festival in May, the model Toni Garrn made a striking appearance in a blue-black bustier dress embroidered with small petals.

— Amy Verner, Vogue, 6 July 2026

Definition of small

Adjective

Their nominal wide players aren’t explosive wingers who sprint 50 yards in five seconds, but more languid players who like drifting infield and playing passing combinations.

— Michael Cox, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Its most common glide bomb models are the FAB-250, FAB-500, FAB-1500, and FAB-3000, where the number corresponds to the nominal weight of the bomb in kilograms.

— Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Definition of nominal

Adjective

Many children in Florida attending private, parochial or homeschool programs do not take the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking, or FAST, test, which is used by Florida’s public school districts to measure students’ achievement.

— Kendall Deas, The Conversation, 6 July 2026
They are hired hands and stewards of other people’s capital, with no desire to becoming embroiled in internecine squabbles between clashing advocates, parochial activists, and plain opportunists latching on to the moment.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 28 June 2026

Definition of parochial

Adjective

In 2024, roughly 48,800 Americans died by suicide, a slight decrease from the peak of nearly 49,500 deaths in this manner in 2022.

— Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Matching trousers stayed narrow through the hips before loosening down the leg into a slight flare.

— Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 3 July 2026

Definition of slight

Adjective

Its designs were suited to its urban New England market — three stories high with a narrow footprint.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Sheer rock walls loom on one side, while the other, which is largely unguarded, plunges to the narrow canyon below.

— Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026

Definition of narrow

Adjective

Selena Gomez took the little black dress to a new level ahead of longtime friend Taylor Swift’s wedding.

— Jennifer McClellan, USA Today, 4 July 2026
That little green or yellow can in the grocery store that boasts pictures of pears, cherries, grapes, and other fruit on the label?

— Josh Miller, Southern Living, 4 July 2026

Definition of little

Adjective

In less trifling hands, there’s no telling what these tools could do, are doing now.

— CHRIS COLIN, Wired News, 18 May 2026
Meanwhile, that global temperature record that DiCaprio mentioned in his acceptance speech in 2016 seems almost trifling compared to what has happened since.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026