Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

pettifogging

[pet-ee-fog-ing, -faw-ging] / ˈpɛt iˌfɒg ɪŋ, -ˌfɔ gɪŋ /






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.

See Examples For:

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

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 8, 2022

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

From Washington Times Jan. 13, 2021

The word is so seldom used that Google Ngrams, which measures the frequency that words appear in books and journals, shows that "pettifogging" peaked in 1900, but has gradually disappeared.

From BBC Jan. 22, 2020

By around the start of Wednesday’s proceedings, the pettifogging over Nadler’s use of “language that is not conducive to civil discourse” had extended from Republicans in the executive, to the judiciary, to the legislative.

From Slate Jan. 22, 2020

You took to haggling and pettifogging: far otherwise do I go to work; I want all or none.

From La Sorcière: The Witch of the Middle Ages by Jules Michelet




Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training