Definitions

petty

[pet-ee] / ˈpɛt i /

ADJECTIVE

trivial, insignificant

Synonyms

STRONGEST

frivolous lesser minor narrow-minded

STRONG

base inessential inferior junior light little lower peanut scratch secondary shallow shoestring slight small subordinate trifling

WEAK

casual cheap contemptible inconsequent inconsiderable irrelevant measly negligible nickel-and-dime niggling paltry penny-ante pettifogging picayune piddling shabby small-minded two-bit unimportant

Antonyms

STRONGEST

greater major

STRONG

big enormous first-class first-rate great huge immense important large significant superior

WEAK

consequential necessary prominent useful

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.

It was a petty beef arising from disrespectful comments made to someone’s girlfriend, but Tylon Hardy responded anyway.

From Salon • Jun. 2, 2026

In 1921, a series of petty crimes swept through Southampton, England.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

"There was still humour, good food, movies, school, petty fights, and romance. To suggest otherwise is to reduce a culture to its trauma," she said.

From BBC • May 19, 2026

OpenAI counters that Musk, who is now also an AI player with xAI, is motivated by petty revenge, having failed to seize majority control.

From Barron's • May 12, 2026

If one grave in a graveyard looks like a target for petty vandals, that is the ghoul-gate.

From "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman

Vocabulary lists containing petty

"Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare, Act I

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I Am Malala

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