noun
meaning: the practice of engaging in petty or trivial arguments, especially for the sake of delaying or complicating a legal process
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The lawyer accused the opposing counsel of engaging in pettifoggery during the trial.
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Stop with all the pettifoggery and just tell me the truth.
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I can't stand all the pettifoggery going on in this argument.
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The political debate was filled with pettifoggery, with both sides avoiding the real issues.