Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [hair-split-ing]
- /ˈhɛərˌsplɪt ɪŋ/
- /ˈheə.splɪt.ɪŋ/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
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- [hair-split-ing]
- /ˈhɛərˌsplɪt ɪŋ/
Definitions of hairsplitting word
- noun hairsplitting the making of unnecessarily fine distinctions. 1
- adjective hairsplitting characterized by such distinctions: the hairsplitting arguments of a political debate. 1
- noun hairsplitting Characterized by or fond of small and overfine distinctions. 1
- noun hairsplitting the making of petty distinctions 0
- adjective hairsplitting occupied with or based on petty distinctions 0
- adjective hairsplitting making overnice or petty distinctions; quibbling 0
Information block about the term
Origin of hairsplitting
First appearance:
before 1820 One of the 38% newest English words
First recorded in 1820-30; hair + splitting
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Hairsplitting
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
hairsplitting popularity
A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 44% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.
According to our data most of word are more popular. This word is almost not used. It has a much more popular synonym.
hairsplitting usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for hairsplitting
noun hairsplitting
- faultfinding — the act of pointing out faults, especially faults of a petty nature; carping.
- sophistry — a subtle, tricky, superficially plausible, but generally fallacious method of reasoning.
- carping — tending to make petty complaints; fault-finding
- quibbling — characterized by or consisting of quibbles; carping; niggling: quibbling debates.
- perfectionism — any of various doctrines holding that religious, moral, social, or political perfection is attainable.
adjective hairsplitting
- cavilling — to raise irritating and trivial objections; find fault with unnecessarily (usually followed by at or about): He finds something to cavil at in everything I say.
- equivocation — The use of ambiguous language to conceal the truth or to avoid committing oneself; prevarication.
- pedantry — the character, qualities, practices, etc., of a pedant, especially undue display of learning.
Antonyms for hairsplitting
adjective hairsplitting
- straightforward — going or directed straight ahead: a straightforward gaze.
See also
Matching words
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