petty

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.

Opened in 1873, the privately operated detention facility housed petty delinquents and orphans, said Marc Schindler, a professor at Georgetown who leads the project.

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

“The common sense of mankind demands that law shall not stop with the punishment of petty crimes by little people. It must also reach men who possess themselves of great power.”

From Salon • Feb. 26, 2026

But the 184-page decision that American lawmakers made public shows the commission acting like a petty despot, with little if any regard for due process.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026

No one wants to resuscitate crime in Manhattan but you can’t blame John Turturro’s petty thief if he’s nostalgic for an era when wallets still held cash.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 21, 2026

And regardless of the outcome of his case, he would lose that amount.“Isn’t $75,000 a lot for petty theft?”

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers