PETTINESS Definition & Meaning

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pettiness

[ pet-ee-nis ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the quality or condition of being of little, lesser, or no importance, consequence, or merit; insignificance:
The economic cost of these wildfires pales into pettiness when compared to the real victims—the wildlife and the natural landscape.
The film is a comedy about the boredom, pettiness, and general strangeness of working in an office, as the protagonists spend their days plotting a way out of their dull and meaningless jobs.
the quality or condition of having or expressing limited ideas, interests, etc.; narrow-mindedness:
The novel is set against a background of small-town deceit and pettiness.
the quality or condition of being unkind, stingy, or ungenerous, especially in small or trifling things; meanspiritedness:
Their pettiness is perhaps best demonstrated by the threatened removal of an assortment of services provided to residents—things like fresh fruit, free coffee, and a monthly outing.

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of pettiness¹

petty ( def ) + -ness ( def )

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

And yes, in a paroxysm of pettiness, he renamed Mt.

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“I think some of it is literally just pettiness.”

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A question for the future: The Mitchell court-martial was an act of small-minded pettiness that must be seen for what it was: an exercise in grand theater.

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The movie finds its spell in the scene where Erivo dances alone, taking the pettiness being directed toward her and transforming it into strength and power.

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The best pettiness is acting like your nemesis’ music doesn’t exist.

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