pettifogger

Meanings

Plural: pettifoggers

Noun

• a person (especially a lawyer or politician) who uses unscrupulous or unethical methods
• a disputant who quibbles; someone who raises annoying petty objections
• Someone who quibbles over trivia, and raises petty, annoying objections and sophistry.
• An unscrupulous or unethical lawyer, especially one of lesser skill.

Synonyms

caviler, caviller, nitpicker, quibbler, shyster

Related Words

pettifog, pettifoggery