picayune — concerned with trivial matters; petty or small-minded
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: concerned with trivial matters; petty or small-minded
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌpɪkəˈjun/
Example Sentences
- The food critic's picayune obsession with napkin placement made the restaurant staff nervous.
- She dismissed his picayune objections and focused on the main issue.
- The professor's picayune correction of comma usage frustrated the graduate students.
picayune
ADJECTIVE[/ˌpɪkəˈjun/]
concerned with trivial matters; petty or small-minded
a stern manager holds a ruler and measures the exact spacing between papers on an employee's desk. The manager frowns intensely while adjusting tiny details like pen alignment and paper corners. Meanwhile, important project files pile up unfinished in the background as the deadline approaches. The employee looks exasperated and taps their watch while valuable work time gets wasted. someone being concerned with trivial matters while ignoring what's actually important
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From French 'picaillon' meaning 'small coin,' originally referring to a Spanish coin of little value used in Louisiana, then extended to mean 'trivial' or 'petty.'
Breakdown
picaillon (French: small coin) → picayune (something of little worth or importance)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The food critic's picayune obsession with napkin placement made the restaurant staff nervous.”
“She dismissed his picayune objections and focused on the main issue.”
“The professor's picayune correction of comma usage frustrated the graduate students.”
“Don't be so picayune about the wedding decorations; the important thing is celebrating love.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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