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hairsplitting

hair·split·ting
H h

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [hair-split-ing]
    • /ˈhɛərˌsplɪt ɪŋ/
    • /ˈheə.splɪt.ɪŋ/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [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 Viewer

Synonyms 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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