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PETTIFOGGER
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Dictionary entry overview: What does pettifogger mean?
• PETTIFOGGER (noun)
The noun PETTIFOGGER has 2 senses:
1. a person (especially a lawyer or politician) who uses unscrupulous or unethical methods
2. a disputant who quibbles; someone who raises annoying petty objections
Familiarity information: PETTIFOGGER used as a noun is rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
A person (especially a lawyer or politician) who uses unscrupulous or unethical methods
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Synonyms:
pettifogger; shyster
Hypernyms ("pettifogger" is a kind of...):
offender; wrongdoer (a person who transgresses moral or civil law)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A disputant who quibbles; someone who raises annoying petty objections
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Synonyms:
caviler; caviller; pettifogger; quibbler
Hypernyms ("pettifogger" is a kind of...):
malcontent (a person who is discontented or disgusted)
Derivation:
pettifog (argue over petty things)
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