Petty
adjective
Of little importance.
Don't worry about such petty matters.
Often appears as...
- petty crime
- petty officer
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Showing an excessive concern with trivial matters.
He is being petty for complaining about the small changes.
Often appears as...
- a petty argument
- a petty complaint
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Of secondary or lesser importance, rank, or scale.
He holds a petty governmental job.
Often appears as...
- petty officer
- petty functionary
adjective
Of little importance.
Don't worry about such petty matters.
Often appears as...
- petty crime
- petty officer
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Showing an excessive concern with trivial matters.
He is being petty for complaining about the small changes.
Often appears as...
- a petty argument
- a petty complaint
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Of secondary or lesser importance, rank, or scale.
He holds a petty governmental job.
Often appears as...
- petty officer
- petty functionary
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/2Don't underestimate
Even 'petty' matters can feel significant for personal reasons. Context matters.
To outsiders, his obsession with those petty details seemed excessive.
Pro Tip 2/2Cultural sensitivity
What's considered 'petty' can vary by culture; be mindful when discussing others' concerns.
In some cultures, what we call petty gossip might be a way of social bonding.
Pro Tip 1/2Don't underestimate
Even 'petty' matters can feel significant for personal reasons. Context matters.
To outsiders, his obsession with those petty details seemed excessive.
Pro Tip 2/2Cultural sensitivity
What's considered 'petty' can vary by culture; be mindful when discussing others' concerns.
In some cultures, what we call petty gossip might be a way of social bonding.
Pro Tip 1/2Don't underestimate
Even 'petty' matters can feel significant for personal reasons. Context matters.
To outsiders, his obsession with those petty details seemed excessive.
Pro Tip 2/2Cultural sensitivity
What's considered 'petty' can vary by culture; be mindful when discussing others' concerns.
In some cultures, what we call petty gossip might be a way of social bonding.
Never forget "Petty"
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Video examples
The freakonomics of...
And most of the inner-city gang members didn't know any rich white people, so couldn't sell to that market. You couldn't really do petty crime, either. Turns out, petty crime's a terrible way to make a living. As a result, as a gang leader, you had, you know, power -- it's a pretty good life -- but the thing was, in the end, you were living at home with your mother. And so it wasn't really a career.
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 7 PIPE...
they do occasionally call during the day as I said we did hear him calling in that town we found him this cops owl and also the pole spotted owl will also do that at times this is one of my favorite little owls I do really really enjoy was enjoy seeing these owls petty you're a new viewer good off the new penny
Video examples
Why we think it's OK to...
Think about the following intuition. How bad would you feel about taking a pencil from work home, compared to how bad would you feel about taking 10 cents from a petty cash box? These things feel very differently. Would being a step removed from cash for a few seconds by being paid by token make a difference?
Video examples
Our buggy moral code PIPE...
following intuition how bad would you feel about taking a pencil from work home compared to how bad would you feel about taking ten cents from a petty cash box these things feel very differently with being a step removed from cash for a few seconds by being paid by token
Video examples
How judges can show...
you know, your regular lineup of low-level offenders -- you know, the low-hanging fruit, the drug-addicted prostitute, the mentally ill homeless person with quality-of-life tickets, the high school dropout petty drug dealer and the misguided young people --
Video examples
Our buggy moral code -...
home compared to how bad would you feel about taking ten cents from a petty cash box these things feel very differently with being a step removed from cash for a few seconds by being paid by token make a difference our subjects double their cheating
Video examples
How to Discover Your...
I told y’all that brown doesn’t look good on me; petty looks even worse. It’s not my shade. And so what I wound up having to do was really get a grip. I had to assess a few things about myself, and I decided to do a little self-help ritual called
Video examples
The deadly genius of...
like dealing with home violence, going after petty criminals, treating addicts, and keeping drugs out of the local markets where they are, and, of course, protecting people from other criminal organizations.
Video examples
Why I choose humanism...
combining farming, petty trading and taking care of my siblings and me. By the time I was born -- that was shortly after the Nigerian civil war -- life was very difficult, a struggle day by day.
Video examples
The impact of Simón...
the only official assistance that he ever received was from Alexander Pythian president of tiny independent black Haiti it was to Alexander petit on that
Video examples
The freakonomics of...
And most of the inner-city gang members didn't know any rich white people, so couldn't sell to that market. You couldn't really do petty crime, either. Turns out, petty crime's a terrible way to make a living. As a result, as a gang leader, you had, you know, power -- it's a pretty good life -- but the thing was, in the end, you were living at home with your mother. And so it wasn't really a career.
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 7 PIPE...
they do occasionally call during the day as I said we did hear him calling in that town we found him this cops owl and also the pole spotted owl will also do that at times this is one of my favorite little owls I do really really enjoy was enjoy seeing these owls petty you're a new viewer good off the new penny
Video examples
Why we think it's OK to...
Think about the following intuition. How bad would you feel about taking a pencil from work home, compared to how bad would you feel about taking 10 cents from a petty cash box? These things feel very differently. Would being a step removed from cash for a few seconds by being paid by token make a difference?
Video examples
Our buggy moral code PIPE...
following intuition how bad would you feel about taking a pencil from work home compared to how bad would you feel about taking ten cents from a petty cash box these things feel very differently with being a step removed from cash for a few seconds by being paid by token
Video examples
How judges can show...
you know, your regular lineup of low-level offenders -- you know, the low-hanging fruit, the drug-addicted prostitute, the mentally ill homeless person with quality-of-life tickets, the high school dropout petty drug dealer and the misguided young people --
Video examples
Our buggy moral code -...
home compared to how bad would you feel about taking ten cents from a petty cash box these things feel very differently with being a step removed from cash for a few seconds by being paid by token make a difference our subjects double their cheating
Video examples
How to Discover Your...
I told y’all that brown doesn’t look good on me; petty looks even worse. It’s not my shade. And so what I wound up having to do was really get a grip. I had to assess a few things about myself, and I decided to do a little self-help ritual called
Video examples
The deadly genius of...
like dealing with home violence, going after petty criminals, treating addicts, and keeping drugs out of the local markets where they are, and, of course, protecting people from other criminal organizations.
Video examples
Why I choose humanism...
combining farming, petty trading and taking care of my siblings and me. By the time I was born -- that was shortly after the Nigerian civil war -- life was very difficult, a struggle day by day.
Video examples
The impact of Simón...
the only official assistance that he ever received was from Alexander Pythian president of tiny independent black Haiti it was to Alexander petit on that
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Pete Hegseth
American Author
I think standing and fighting and working alongside all of these people that raise their right hand and serve their nation... really wipes away the distractions of some of the petty things we think are important at home.
Quote examples
Kim Gordon
American Musician
Part of my desire to play music was because I wanted to escape the art world and the politics of it; the petty gossip-y art world. But you know, I feel like they're both equal forms of expression.
Quote examples
Richard M. Nixon
American President
Remember, always give your best. Never get discouraged. Never be petty. Always remember, others may hate you. But those who hate you don't win unless you hate them. And then you destroy yourself.
Quote examples
Graham Greene
British Novelist
A petty reason perhaps why novelists more and more try to keep a distance from journalists is that novelists are trying to write the truth and journalists are trying to write fiction.
Quote examples
Robert Greene
English Playwright
Your energy, your spirit are important considerations. Feeling petty and frustrated can have reverberating consequences for your ability to think strategically and reach your goals.
Quote examples
Teresa Giudice
American Celebrity
Please hug your parents while you have them, tell your children how much you love them every second of the day, and don't let the petty things in life separate you.
Quote examples
Sophie Hawley-Weld
German Musician
Making dance music is a spiritual thing. It's about being completely absorbed by rhythm and vibration, so much so that the petty stuff of life stops mattering.
Quote examples
Winston Churchill
British Statesman
Never give in - never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense.
Quote examples
Adele
English Singer
My life is full of drama, and I don't have time to worry about something as petty as what I look like.
Quote examples
Maude Adams
American Actress
Don't be afraid of failure; be afraid of petty success.
Quote examples
Pete Hegseth
American Author
I think standing and fighting and working alongside all of these people that raise their right hand and serve their nation... really wipes away the distractions of some of the petty things we think are important at home.
Quote examples
Kim Gordon
American Musician
Part of my desire to play music was because I wanted to escape the art world and the politics of it; the petty gossip-y art world. But you know, I feel like they're both equal forms of expression.
Quote examples
Richard M. Nixon
American President
Remember, always give your best. Never get discouraged. Never be petty. Always remember, others may hate you. But those who hate you don't win unless you hate them. And then you destroy yourself.
Quote examples
Graham Greene
British Novelist
A petty reason perhaps why novelists more and more try to keep a distance from journalists is that novelists are trying to write the truth and journalists are trying to write fiction.
Quote examples
Robert Greene
English Playwright
Your energy, your spirit are important considerations. Feeling petty and frustrated can have reverberating consequences for your ability to think strategically and reach your goals.
Quote examples
Teresa Giudice
American Celebrity
Please hug your parents while you have them, tell your children how much you love them every second of the day, and don't let the petty things in life separate you.
Quote examples
Sophie Hawley-Weld
German Musician
Making dance music is a spiritual thing. It's about being completely absorbed by rhythm and vibration, so much so that the petty stuff of life stops mattering.
Quote examples
Winston Churchill
British Statesman
Never give in - never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense.
Quote examples
Adele
English Singer
My life is full of drama, and I don't have time to worry about something as petty as what I look like.
Quote examples
Maude Adams
American Actress
Don't be afraid of failure; be afraid of petty success.
Example 1 of 10
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