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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nominal
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention
obsessed over even petty problems
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of petty
Despite the emotional celebration, the Raptors’ Global Ambassador still had some petty energy to put into the air.
—
Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 4 Nov. 2024
Tren de Aragua is best known for petty crimes, such as retail theft, and for targeting other Venezuelan migrants.
—Ignacio Calderon, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2024
The knifes range from the wee (petty and paring knives) to the grand (cleavers and vegetable knives).
—Scott Hocker, theweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Foolish, vain, and petty Jasmine may be, but Blanchett managed to make her slow-motion downfall oddly emotional.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for petty 
Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 4 Nov. 2024
Tren de Aragua is best known for petty crimes, such as retail theft, and for targeting other Venezuelan migrants.
—Ignacio Calderon, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2024
The knifes range from the wee (petty and paring knives) to the grand (cleavers and vegetable knives).
—Scott Hocker, theweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Foolish, vain, and petty Jasmine may be, but Blanchett managed to make her slow-motion downfall oddly emotional.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for petty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for petty
Adjective
-
Popular on Variety The duo take oversight of a significantly smaller media operation that Comcast executives are betting will fare better without the burden of a passel of large cable networks that, while still profitable, are in decline.Brian Steinberg, Variety, 20 Nov. 2024
-
The movie follows a dancer (Britt Robertson) who gets cut from her company in the big city and returns home to her small town, only to find that her parents’ local performing arts venue is at risk of being closed.Leigh Nordstrom, WWD, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
The sponsor's fee is set at an annual nominal rate of 0.40% of the euro in the Trust.Quartz Bot, Quartz, 7 Nov. 2024
-
And, on a more abstract level, a 4.2% 10-year yield isn’t out of line with a U.S. economy now operating at a 5.5% nominal GDP growth pace (based on current GDP tracking models and prevailing headline inflation rates).Michael Santoli, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
There are literally thousands of other Americans worldwide who have dedicated their lives in similar ways to causes that are more consequential than parochial nationalism.Saleem H. Ali, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
-
Slipknot have since gone multi-platinum, founded their own music festival, and stretched far beyond their parochial metal scene into persistent cultural relevance.Emma Madden, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
The latest consumer price index is expected to show a slight increase for October.Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
-
The Slack survey found a slight increase in AI usage, up one percentage point between March and August 2024 for US respondents (32% to 33%).Emily Dreibelbis Forlini, PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Shutting down the Department of Education requires congressional approval and with Republicans holding a narrow majority in the Senate, Trump's bid faces a narrow path forward.Erin Doherty, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024
-
Blackhawks express desperation but don't show it in another narrow defeat What's ailing the Packers in the red zone?New York Times, New York Times, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Seemingly small or trivial accuracy improvements could actually play a crucial role when applied in extreme, emergency settings.Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 13 Nov. 2024
-
What might feel like trivial small talk is actually an invitation for connection.Mark Travers, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
This comfy pair of undies gets bonus points for its buttery-smooth material, picot trim, and little rosette detail.Annie Blackman, Allure, 23 Nov. 2024
-
These little niceties can leave a lasting impression and spur repeat visits throughout the year. 5.Rohit Arora, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
And yet the movie’s insularity feels trifling and empty.David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Feb. 2024
-
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 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share