1
as in petty
not broad or open in views or opinions
the picayune ponderings of a commentator who steadfastly believes other cultures are inferior to our own
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nominal
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention
irritatingly picayune complaints
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in nothing
something of little importance
our lives don't amount to a picayune in the great scheme of things
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of picayune
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Apr. 2026
By itself, this habit might seem picayune.
—
Jeet Heer,
Washington Post,
18 Nov. 2025
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
5 Dec. 2025
Adjective
The two events share a history — one that illustrates just how the plate program has become picayune, politicized and potentially hazardous to public safety.
—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Apr. 2026
By itself, this habit might seem picayune.
—
Jeet Heer,
Washington Post,
18 Nov. 2025
Noun
What might strike the casual observer as a picayune air conditioning problem weaves in, in the telling of it over coffee at The Buttered Tin restaurant, many unruly elements.
—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
5 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picayune
Adjective
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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.
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Some were petty — like Reese committing a foul against Clark, then jerking her head back, impersonating Clark as a flopper.
Adjective
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Los Angeles stretches its NL West lead to 11 games and maintains MLB’s best record as Ohtani’s star power turns Sacramento’s nominal home crowd into a roaring Dodgers road show.
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The model produces outputs within nominal parameters, but those outputs reflect market conditions that are seconds or minutes stale.
Noun
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While CinemaCon 2026 brought us exciting news about new films, it was also bogged down with status quo nothings about how Amazon MGM still hasn’t found a new James Bond.
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When Dana, who, like Virginia, had been successful in writing pleasant but undistinguished nothings—in her case, songs for Billy Rose’s revues—decided to try taking on more serious music by studying with Boulanger, Virginia entered a deep downward spiral.
Adjective
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In contrast, instruments on the FireSat satellites will be able to detect small brush and roadside fires 16 feet across.
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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.
Adjective
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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.
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Matching trousers stayed narrow through the hips before loosening down the leg into a slight flare.
Noun
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After debuting in 2007, The Big Bang Theory entertained viewers with the everyday trivialities and obsessions of friends who work in science.
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For Rayo’s Conference League play-off second leg against Belarusian side Neman Grodno in August, neither the desks for the media (a triviality) nor the toilets for disabled supporters (a disgrace) had been finished in time.
Adjective
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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.
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In the most parochial place that ever was or ever will be, authenticity functions as a means of psychic gatekeeping, and someone who doesn’t speak the lingua Francona isn’t someone who’s worth listening to when the game’s on.
Adjective
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The aesthetic philosophy runs through every decision, including ones that might seem trivial.
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In reality, the origin is completely trivial.
Cite this Entry
“Picayune.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picayune. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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