What is another word for petty criticism?
Pronunciation: [pˈɛti kɹˈɪtɪsˌɪzəm] (IPA) 
Petty criticism refers to minor, insignificant complaints or nitpicking. Some synonyms for petty criticism may include fault-finding, carping, caviling, quibbling, nagging, or bickering. These words all describe someone who is overly critical, focusing on minor details rather than the bigger picture. Other synonyms could be nitpicking, hair-splitting, or hypercritical. These words describe someone who is overly picky and critical, often with no real reason to be. While some criticism can be constructive and helpful, petty criticism serves mostly to annoy and frustrate the person being criticized. It is important to identify when criticism is helpful and when it becomes petty, so that we can improve our communication with others.
