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Antonyms for petty


Grammar : Adj
Spell : pet-ee
Phonetic Transcription : ˈpɛt i



Definition of petty

Origin :
  • late 14c., "small," from phonemic spelling of Old French petit "small" (see petit). In English, not originally disparaging (cf. petty cash, 1834; petty officer, 1570s). Meaning "of small importance" is recorded from 1520s; that of "small-minded" is from 1580s. Related: Pettily; pettiness. An old name for "Northern Lights" was petty dancers.
  • adj trivial, insignificant
Example sentences :
  • What did he care then for Halbert Davis and his petty malice!
  • Extract from : « Brave and Bold » by Horatio Alger
  • Not that in his presence she became vain or petty or jealous; that would have been impossible.
  • Extract from : « Malbone » by Thomas Wentworth Higginson
  • No matter by what petty trials they were caught so that they were really caught.
  • Extract from : « Ester Ried Yet Speaking » by Isabella Alden
  • Now that he was gone there would be nothing but quarrels and petty jealousies.
  • Extract from : « The Trail Book » by Mary Austin
  • This kind of petty bribery is, of course, abominable, and should never be countenanced.
  • Extract from : « The Underdog » by F. Hopkinson Smith
  • One of the mates, and two of the petty officers, could speak a little English.
  • Extract from : « Ned Myers » by James Fenimore Cooper
  • But the formal exterior of that petty pompous man I cannot penetrate.
  • Extract from : « City of Endless Night » by Milo Hastings
  • Petty was a most indefatigable contriver, inventor, and organizer of industry.
  • Extract from : « Self-Help » by Samuel Smiles
  • There is no one who can use me unless it be some petty state which needs mercenaries.
  • Extract from : « Louisiana Lou » by William West Winter
  • Every petty bourgeois in a democratic community has a chance of rising and wishes to do so.
  • Extract from : « Fruitfulness » by Emile Zola

Synonyms for petty

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019