Definitions for hairsplittingˈhɛərˌsplɪt ɪŋ

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Random House Webster's College Dictionary

hair•split•tingˈhɛərˌsplɪt ɪŋ(n.)

  1. the making of unnecessarily fine distinctions.

    Category: Common Vocabulary

  2. (adj.)characterized by such distinctions; quibbling:

    hairsplitting arguments.

    Category: Common Vocabulary

Origin of hairsplitting:

1820–30

hair′split`ter(n.)

Princeton's WordNet

  1. hairsplitting, word-splitting(adj)

    making too fine distinctions of little importance

    "they didn't take his hairsplitting seriously"

  2. finespun, hairsplitting(adj)

    developed in excessively fine detail

    "finespun distinctions"

Wiktionary

  1. hairsplitting(Noun)

    The act of considering or arguing about fine details, or worrying about minutiae.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Hairsplitting(adj)

    making excessively nice or trivial distinctions in reasoning; subtle

  2. Hairsplitting(noun)

    the act or practice of making trivial distinctions


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