PALTRINESS Synonyms: 46 Similar and Opposite Words

paltriness

noun

Definition of paltriness

as in pettiness

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for paltriness

Noun

Selfishness and pettiness are not twentieth century inventions.

— Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 13 July 2026
These mostly harmless quips resemble the type of pettiness that once ran roughshod across the Lone Star State, back when eight Texas programs were members of the Southwest Conference.

— Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 1 July 2026

Definition of pettiness

Noun

He is simultaneously convinced of his own worthlessness and angry with the world for failing to recognize his unlimited potential.

— Big Think, Big Think, 29 Apr. 2026
Johnson said depression often manifests as persistent negative self-perception, hopelessness, feelings of worthlessness and social withdrawal.

— Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 8 Mar. 2026

Definition of worthlessness

Noun

The rooms were part of Kusama’s ongoing exploration of self-obliteration and her career-long ambition to create work that provokes a keen awareness of both one’s individual insignificance and place in the wider cosmic system.

— Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
Artist Meredith Reynolds believed Platner’s past paled into insignificance when compared with his opponents.

— David Millward, The Washington Examiner, 7 June 2026

Definition of insignificance

Noun

On Cape Ann, Rothko and Gottlieb thought a lot about the sun, as well as the sea, the sky, and the smallness of human life.

— Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026
Both Drake and Lütke rejected Canadian smallness, the reflex that says our cities are minor markets, our companies are acquisition targets, and our culture is a regional dialect of America's.

— Kumaran Nadesan, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Definition of smallness

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

palter (with)

paltriness

paltry

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Paltriness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paltriness. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of paltriness

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

matriculate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes