NYT Dictionary

PETTIFOG

/ˈpɛt.iˌfɒɡ/
VerbPET-ti-fogpet-ti-fog · 3 syllablesAdvanced/Professional

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2021, 2025

Meaning

To quibble over trivial matters; nitpick.

Etymology

Origin: Unknown

Back-formation from pettifogger.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

squabblequibblenigglebickerbrabblearguecarpcavilcontendcontest

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 1 recorded puzzle, including a pangram:

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