Picayune — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ˌpi-kē-ˈyün/ pic·a·yune

Meaning & Definition of Picayune

Picayune (noun)

  1. a Spanish half real piece formerly current in the South
  2. half dime
  3. something trivial

Picayune (adjective)

  1. of little value, paltry; also, petty, small-minded

Picayune (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. not broad or open in views or opinions

    "the picayune ponderings of a commentator who steadfastly believes other cultures are inferior to our own"

    similar: illiberal, insular, Lilliputian, little, narrow, narrow-minded, parochial, petty, provincial, sectarian, small, small-minded
    related: inflexible, ironbound, obdurate, obstinate, rigid, set, stubborn, unyielding, wrongheaded, bigoted, intolerant, biased, discriminating, discriminatory, jaundiced, one-sided, partial, partisan, prejudiced, brassbound, hidebound, old-fashioned, reactionary, stodgy, straitlaced, stuffy, dogmatic, opinionated, opinionative, limited, hick, unsophisticated
    opposite: broad-minded, catholic, cosmopolitan, liberal, open, open-minded, receptive, tolerant
    near: impartial, nonpartisan, objective, unbiased, unprejudiced, freethinking

  2. so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention

    "irritatingly picayune complaints"

    similar: chicken, de minimis, footling, inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, measly, Mickey Mouse, minute, negligible, niggling, no-account, nominal, paltry, peanut, petty, piddling, piddly, piffling, pimping, slight, trifling, trivial
    related: inferior, mean, imperceptible, inappreciable, little, puny, tiny, hairsplitting, nitpicking, pettifogging, quibbling, one-horse, small-fry, two-bit
    opposite: big, consequential, considerable, important, material, significant
    near: serious, substantial, weighty, eventful, momentous, pivotal, conspicuous, noteworthy, outstanding, prominent, remarkable, striking, appreciable, discernible, measurable

Picayune (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. something of little importance

    "our lives don't amount to a picayune in the great scheme of things"

    similar: bagatelle, child's play, frippery, nonproblem, nothing, shuck(s), small beer, small change, trifle, triviality
    related: naught, nothingness, smoke, zero, peanuts, pittance, song, straw, two bits, bunk, claptrap, drivel, folly, fribble, fudge, hogwash, humbug, humbuggery, nonsense, piffle, rot, trash, trivia, bit, crumb, dab, dram, lick, mite, ounce, particle, pinhead, scintilla, shred, smidgen, soupçon, speck, spot, tad, touch, trace

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Picayune

The most common words with a similar meaning to Picayune:

illiberal, insular, Lilliputian, little, narrow, narrow-minded, parochial, petty, provincial, sectarian, small, small-minded, chicken, de minimis, footling, inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, measly, Mickey Mouse, minute, negligible, niggling, no-account, nominal, paltry, peanut, piddling, piddly, piffling, pimping, slight, trifling, trivial, bagatelle, child's play, frippery, nonproblem, nothing, shuck(s)

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Picayune

Words with the opposite meaning of Picayune:

broad-minded, catholic, cosmopolitan, liberal, open, open-minded, receptive, tolerant, big, consequential, considerable, important, material, significant

Related Words for Picayune

inflexible, ironbound, obdurate, obstinate, rigid, set, stubborn, unyielding, wrongheaded, bigoted, intolerant, biased, discriminating, discriminatory, jaundiced, one-sided, partial, partisan, prejudiced, brassbound, hidebound, old-fashioned, reactionary, stodgy, straitlaced, stuffy, dogmatic, opinionated, opinionative, limited

Near Antonyms of Picayune

impartial, nonpartisan, objective, unbiased, unprejudiced, freethinking, serious, substantial, weighty, eventful, momentous, pivotal, conspicuous, noteworthy, outstanding, prominent, remarkable, striking, appreciable, discernible, measurable

Word Forms of Picayune

Derived words: picayunish (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Picayune

Occitan picaioun, a small coin, from picaio money, from pica to jingle, of imitative origin

First known use: 1805

Frequently Asked Questions about Picayune

What does "Picayune" mean?

"Picayune" means a Spanish half real piece formerly current in the South. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: a Spanish half real piece formerly current in the South. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Picayune"?

Other words for "Picayune" include illiberal, insular, Lilliputian, little, narrow, narrow-minded, parochial and petty. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Picayune" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Picayune"?

There are 130 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Picayune". Common alternatives include illiberal, insular, Lilliputian, little, narrow, narrow-minded, parochial, petty, provincial and sectarian.

What is the opposite of "Picayune"?

Antonyms of "Picayune" include broad-minded, catholic, cosmopolitan, liberal, open, open-minded, receptive and tolerant. Near antonyms include impartial, nonpartisan, objective and unbiased.

How do you use "Picayune" in a sentence?

Examples of "Picayune" in a sentence: "the picayune ponderings of a commentator who steadfastly believes other cultures are inferior to our own"; "irritatingly picayune complaints"; "our lives don't amount to a picayune in the great scheme of things".

Is "Picayune" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Picayune" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Picayune"?

"Picayune" is pronounced /ˌpi-kē-ˈyün/ and divided into syllables as pic·a·yune.

What is the origin of the word "Picayune"?

"Picayune" comes from Occitan picaioun, a small coin, from picaio money, from pica to jingle, of imitative origin. First known use: 1805.