1
as in lawyer
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2
as in quibbler
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Recent Examples of pettifogger
For nearly three years now, I’ve been fascinated by the performance art of this blustering pettifogger.
—
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2023
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pettifogger
Noun
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Art Hartinger is the lawyer who has been representing the county.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
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Jesús Eduardo Arias, a lawyer representing the Ramos-Solano family, said that an independent investigation into Ramos’ death will be underway to determine his cause of death.—
Ryanne Mena,
Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The bubble-ists think that the Coreweave people are hopeless dreamers at best and shysters at worst.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
28 Sep. 2025
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To demonstrate that point in a video, a researcher told a robot arm to put a bunch of plastic grapes into a clear Tupperware container, then proceeded to shift three containers around on the table in an approximation of a shyster’s shell game.—
Eliza Strickland,
IEEE Spectrum,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The purists will insist that Babe Ruth is rolling in his grave, while the game’s youngest fans probably aren’t listening to them with so many other options for entertainment.—
Abbey Mastracco,
Hartford Courant,
23 Mar. 2026
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When Barbara Walters started interviewing celebrities on her prime time specials for ABC in the 1970s, pearl-clutching journalistic purists were aghast.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Part of what contributes to the slim odds is the fact that Morris is seeking to move the process forward using Christian arbitration, while Gateway wants to use a standard legal approach, Morris’ attorney Bill Mateja told the Star-Telegram last July.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2026
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Even attorneys who specialize in wills, trusts, estate planning and probate may have no experience dealing with Chapter 415 of the Florida Statutes.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Monsieur D’Estrées was a very strict teacher, a perfectionist.—
Valentina Bottoni,
Vanity Fair,
30 Mar. 2026
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This means the perfectionist in you can zero in on the perfect shade of beige or blue without shelling out for customized covers.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pettifogger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pettifogger. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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