pettifog

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Experts were doubtful from the start of his pettifogging that he had reasonable grounds to bail out.

From Los Angeles Times

The Economist described his viewpoint succinctly: “He paints stewards of fair play — regulators and boards — as pettifogging enemies of progress,” wrote its pseudonymous business columnist “Schumpeter.”

From Los Angeles Times

The virtue of this concept is that it divorces essential protections from pettifogging debates over the definition of “employee.”

From Los Angeles Times

But the vast majority of our elected representatives overruled the pettifogging legalisms of Kennedy and the others.

From Washington Times

In an earlier impeachment trial, he said, an accusation of “pettifogging,” or an undue emphasis on petty details, was said to have crossed a line.

From New York Times