hairsplitting

[hair-split-ing]

See more synonyms for hairsplitting on Thesaurus.com

noun

the making of unnecessarily fine distinctions.

adjective

characterized by such distinctions: the hairsplitting arguments of a political debate.

Origin of hairsplitting

First recorded in 1820–30; hair + splitting

Related formshair·split·ter, noun

Synonyms for hairsplitting

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2. quibbling, niggling, nitpicking, captious.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for hairsplitting

faultfinding, pettiness, sophistry, carping, perfectionism, bickering, quibbling

Examples from the Web for hairsplitting

Historical Examples of hairsplitting

Of what practical use then, it may be asked, is all this hairsplitting?
Some Principles of Maritime Strategy
Julian Stafford Corbett
Hairsplitting terms like this I do not often employ, but, blessings on the head of Cadmus!
Games for the Playground, Home, School and Gymnasium
Jessie H. Bancroft
The mass of the party, he said, did not trouble their heads about theories, but plodded along unmindful of hairsplitting.
Socialism and Democracy in Europe
Samuel P. Orth
It was fine legal reasoning, not without some of that hairsplitting for which Jefferson reproached Randolph.
Thomas Jefferson
Gilbert Chinard

British Dictionary definitions for hairsplitting

hairsplitting

noun

the making of petty distinctions

adjective

occupied with or based on petty distinctions

Derived Formshairsplitter, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012