picayunish

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for picayunish
Adjective
  • But only a fool would harp on picayune flaws when this rich material is being served with such musical polish and sensitivity.
    Charles Isherwood, WSJ, 18 Aug. 2022
  • Challenging ballot designations has become something of a sport in California politics — squabbles over the occasionally picayune rules return each cycle like the swallows to Capistrano.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2022
Adjective
  • Those tests that pick up most cancers tend to pick up other unimportant things as well — and those screening tests that are limited to discovering cancer often miss many people with the disease.
    Cory Franklin, Twin Cities, 14 Sep. 2025
  • After Princeton and military service, he was sent to the Paris bureau, where his scoops and reviews forced designers to alter their view of Women’s Wear Daily as unimportant.
    James Fallon, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Then, the pandemic reduced the schedule to 60 games and Eddie got a piddling 37%.
    Star Tribune, Star Tribune, 3 Dec. 2020
  • Millions of additional claims are expected to stream in from around the country over the coming weeks, while hiring remains piddling.
    Patricia Cohen, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2020
Adjective
  • In their recommendation, Warner and Kaine said Nachmanoff supervised a team that represented more than 2,500 clients accused of federal violations ranging from petty offenses to capital murder.
    Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Phantom Thread is a masterfully claustrophobic portrayal of a ’50s fashion house, as well as a nuanced depiction of a petty despot ruling over his small kingdom.
    Alison Willmore, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • That’s in part, because the odds appear to be long for oxygenic photosynthesis arising on a planet circling a puny red dwarf.
    Bruce Dorminey, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • His splendid defense never wavered, but Harris was statistically the worst lineup regular in the majors this season through the All-Star break, batting .210 with a puny .551 OPS in 93 games.
    David O'Brien, New York Times, 21 Aug. 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Quarterback and tight end are a bit complicated because the low-end of starters at each position provide negligible value over replacement.
    Jakob Sanderson, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Venezuela’s military is not negligible, but readiness has been eroded by decades of economic crisis, sanctions and maintenance shortfalls.
    Robert Muggah, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Picayunish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picayunish. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

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