If you accuse someone of pedantry, you mean that you disapprove of them because they pay excessive attention to unimportant details or traditional rules, especially in connection with academic subjects.
[disapproval]
More Synonyms of pedantry
pedantry in British English
(ˈpɛdəntrɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-ries
the habit or an instance of being a pedant, esp in the display of useless knowledge or minute observance of petty rules or details
pedantry in American English
(ˈpɛdəntri)
nounWord forms: pluralˈpedantries
1.
the qualities, practices, etc. of a pedant; ostentatious display of knowledge, or an instance of this
2.
an arbitrary adherence to rules and forms
Word origin
Fr pédanterie < It pedanteria < pedante: see pedant
Examples of 'pedantry' in a sentence
pedantry
I have the thread of something in this pedantry, that may lead me out of this plague-pit.
Various LOOKING FOR THE SPARK (1987)
Neither minded his pedantry, since he devoted most of it to church architecture, one of their favorite subjects.
Howker, Janni ISAAC CAMPION (1987)
Quotations
Pedantry is the dotage of knowledgeHolbrook JacksonAnatomy of Bibliomania
1 (noun)
Definition
the practice of being a pedant, esp. in the minute observance of petty rules or details
The results of the survey are exhaustive to the point of pedantry.
Synonyms
hairsplitting
quibbling
pomposity
sophistry
punctiliousness
finickiness
pettifoggery
finicality
overnicety
2 (noun)
Definition
the practice of being a pedant, esp. in the minute observance of petty rules or details
The novel suffers from pedantry and dullness.
Synonyms
stuffiness
pomposity
He was modest and simple, without a trace of pomposity.
intellectualism
pretentiousness
bookishness
donnishness
pedagogism
Quotation
Pedantry is the dotage of knowledge [Holbrook Jackson – Anatomy of Bibliomania]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of pomposity
He was modest and simple, without a trace of pomposity.