hairsplitting

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.

But Oedipus is in no mood for academic hairsplitting.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 13, 2025

Andy: See, this is what I mean: the smooth fox terrier and the wire fox terrier just feels like hairsplitting.

From New York Times • Feb. 11, 2020

This is a strange time to be debating the merits of truth in journalism on the stage—and it is journalism that John is practicing here, regardless of his genre hairsplitting.

From The New Yorker • Oct. 22, 2018

Even when Bessus’s behavior is utterly craven, his sidekicks mount hairsplitting arguments that prove him valiant — and he believes them.

From Washington Post • Apr. 5, 2017

One moment's reflection will show why they need not be considered separately, and why we can leave it to Webster to do the hairsplitting.

From The Armed Forces Officer Department of the Army Pamphlet 600-2 by United States. Dept. of Defense