Petty vs. Spiteful

Petty vs. Spiteful — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Petty and Spiteful

Pettyadjective

Little, small, secondary in rank or importance.

petty officer, petty cash

Spitefuladjective

Filled with, or showing, spite; having a desire to annoy or harm.

Pettyadjective

Insignificant, trifling, or inconsiderable.

a petty fault

Spitefuladjective

showing malicious ill will and a desire to hurt; motivated by spite;

a despiteful fienda truly spiteful childa vindictive man will look for occasions for resentment

Pettyadjective

Narrow-minded, small-minded.

Pettyadjective

Begrudging in nature, especially over insignificant matters.

That corporation is only slightly pettier than they are greedy, and they are overdue to reap the consequences.
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Pettynoun

A little schoolboy, either in grade or size.

Pettynoun

A class or school for young schoolboys.

Pettynoun

An outhouse: an outbuilding used as a lavatory.

Pettyadjective

inferior in rank or status;

the junior facultya lowly corporalpetty officialdoma subordinate functionary

Pettyadjective

(informal terms) small and of little importance;

a fiddling sum of moneya footling gestureour worries are lilliputian compared with those of countries that are at wara little (or small) matterMickey Mouse regulationsa dispute over niggling detailslimited to petty enterprisespiffling effortsgiving a police officer a free meal may be against the law, but it seems to be a picayune infraction

Pettyadjective

contemptibly narrow in outlook;

petty little commentsdisgusted with their small-minded pettiness
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