pettily
In trivial spite
In a petty manner—with excessive concern for trivial matters or small-minded grievances.
Someone who acts pettily fixates on minor slights or engages in spiteful behavior over insignificant things: She pettily refused to share credit for the project.
The word carries a note of contempt for such behavior.
Trivial objection raised
squabble · snipe · criticize · nag · belittle · complain · gripe · fault-finding
Lacking importance or consequence
- minorScale with lowered third
- triflingOf no real importance
- inconsequentialLacking significance or impact
- negligibleToo small to consider
picayune · piddling · footling · nugatory · paltry · slight · marginal · frivolous
Narrow in perspective
- provincialRegional or narrow-minded
- myopicUnable to see far
- insularNarrow in outlook
- small-mindedLacking breadth of thought
blinkered · intolerant · bigoted · prejudiced · biased · limited · shortsighted · unimaginative
Seeking harm from resentment
- maliciousMeaning to do harm
- vengefulWanting to harm back
- resentfulFeeling lingering ill will
- cattySlyly spiteful
snide · nasty · hostile · bitter · sneering · backbiting · gossipy · mean-spirited
quibble
Trivial objection raised
bicker · squabble · snipe · criticize · nag · belittle · complain · gripe · fault-finding · carping
insignificant
Lacking importance or consequence
- minorScale with lowered third
- triflingOf no real importance
- inconsequentialLacking significance or impact
negligible · picayune · piddling · footling · nugatory · paltry · slight · marginal · frivolous · unimportant
parochial
Narrow in perspective
- provincialRegional or narrow-minded
- myopicUnable to see far
- insularNarrow in outlook
small-minded · blinkered · intolerant · bigoted · prejudiced · biased · limited · shortsighted · unimaginative · closed-minded
vindictive
Seeking harm from resentment
catty · snide · nasty · hostile · bitter · sneering · backbiting · gossipy · mean-spirited · sarcastic
resentment
Persistent bitter displeasure
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
- rancorLasting bitter resentment
ill-will · grievance · malice · vengeance · hostility · enmity · spitefulness · loathing · hatred · revenge
pettilymagnanimously
With generous spirit
generously · nobly · graciously · benevolently · big-heartedly
pettilyimportantly
With great consequence
significantly · crucially · majorly · substantially · consequentially
pettilybroad-mindedly
With receptive, unprejudiced attitude
expansively · grandly · open-mindedly · loftily · ambitiously
pettiness, pettiest, pettier, pettifogger, pettifogging, pettifog, pettifoggery