Petty vs. Spiteful

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Difference Between Petty and Spiteful
Pettyadjective
Little, small, secondary in rank or importance.
petty officer, petty cashSpitefuladjective
Filled with, or showing, spite; having a desire to annoy or harm.
Pettyadjective
Insignificant, trifling, or inconsiderable.
a petty faultSpitefuladjective
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 resentmentPettyadjective
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.ADVERTISEMENT
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 functionaryPettyadjective
(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 infractionPettyadjective
contemptibly narrow in outlook;
petty little commentsdisgusted with their small-minded pettinessADVERTISEMENT