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
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2
as in nominal
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention
obsessed over even petty problems
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Examples of petty in a Sentence
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Recent Examples on the Web
Their motives can be similar to adults, but the decision-making portions of adolescent brains are still forming, which can make kids more hasty to use violence to solve petty conflicts, said Kathleen Heide, professor emerita of criminology at the University of South Florida.
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N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY, 18 Oct. 2024
The level of petty in this post is astonishing to me.
—Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 10 Oct. 2024
After three or so songs, the singing just feels a little like some kind of petty punishment.
—Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 4 Oct. 2024
With five weeks until Election Day, this is not the time for petit niceties but rather petty needling.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 30 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for petty 
N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY, 18 Oct. 2024
The level of petty in this post is astonishing to me.
—Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 10 Oct. 2024
After three or so songs, the singing just feels a little like some kind of petty punishment.
—Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 4 Oct. 2024
With five weeks until Election Day, this is not the time for petit niceties but rather petty needling.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 30 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for petty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for petty
Adjective
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Although smaller in scope, the President received his first glimpse into the new lands acquired through the Louisiana Purchase.Curtis Varnell The Timepiece, arkansasonline.com, 27 Oct. 2024
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The fires department says local small businesses such as The Den Indy and Living Room Lounge offered logistical help, food and water to the firefighters combating the fire.Alexandria Burris, The Indianapolis Star, 27 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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However, this collection of articles covers the vulgar and hypocritical parade of politics during the Roaring ’20s, when Prohibition was the nominal law of the land.Ben Jacobs, The Atlantic, 1 Nov. 2024
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Located in a state that's deep blue on the presidential level, this suburb was represented for a long time in Congress by senior Democrats like Eliot Engel and Nita Lowey, both of whom coasted to reelection with nominal opposition in older versions of this district.Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 30 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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How can a place be at once so cosmopolitan and so parochial?Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024
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Uniforms were only associated with parochial and private schools until the late 1980s, but public schools began piloting them as well, allowing plaid’s influence in American classrooms to spread.Jacqui Palumbo, CNN, 5 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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Sour cream: Adds creaminess and a slight tang to the mashed potatoes.Stacey Ballis, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2024
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That slight depth at the roots also directs attention to your facial features.Sophia Panych, Allure, 2 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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As a member, America has agreed not to increase tariffs on another WTO member except in specific narrow circumstances, none of which applied.Tom Campbell, Orange County Register, 26 Oct. 2024
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Lisbon began operating trams in the late 19th century to transport passengers up the steep and narrow streets criss-crossing the hilly old city.Amanda Gerut, Fortune Europe, 26 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Still, in the face of such reality, making music, painting and making a movie can seem trivial.Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 2 Nov. 2024
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And frankly, this reason seems trivial compared to Brock Purdy’s three interceptions, the Niners’ defense’s failure to stop Patrick Mahomes on third down, and the lopsided mismatches that Kansas City boasted on both lines of scrimmage.Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 21 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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The monsoon was also sporadic, providing little rainfall to alleviate temperatures.Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 1 Nov. 2024
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Yet there is little federal oversight or scrutiny of political texts.Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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And yet the movie’s insularity feels trifling and empty.David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Feb. 2024
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The cost to find these answers, even in the near term, is relatively trifling.Phil Plait, Scientific American, 30 Oct. 2023
Thesaurus Entries Near petty
Cite this Entry
“Petty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/petty. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.
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