Petty (Adjective)
Meaning 1
(informal) small and of little importance; "a fiddling sum of money"; "a footling gesture"; "our worries are lilliputian compared with those of countries that are at war"; "a little (or small) matter"; "a dispute over niggling details"; "limited to petty enterprises"; "piffling efforts"; "giving a police officer a free meal may be against the law, but it seems to be a picayune infraction".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Usages
Examples
- He's been complaining about petty issues with the hotel room all morning, but I think it's time to focus on the main reason we're here.
- She made a petty remark about my hair, but I chose to ignore it and move on with the conversation.
- The two companies have been embroiled in a petty dispute over patent rights for months, but it's finally going to trial.
- I don't want to bother my parents with petty concerns like my allowance or grades when they're already dealing with bigger problems.
- He was worried about getting caught for such a petty crime, but in the grand scheme of things, it was hardly worth stressing over.
Synonyms
Related Words
Meaning 2
Inferior in rank or status; "the junior faculty"; "a lowly corporal"; "petty officialdom"; "a subordinate functionary".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Synonyms
Related Words
Meaning 3
Contemptibly narrow in outlook; "petty little comments"; "disgusted with their small-minded pettiness".
Classification
All adjective clusters.