malpetdom
To exercise authority over a minor task or small department in an intentionally obstructive, pedantic, or inefficient manner. It describes the act of turning a small responsibility into a personal fiefdom to assert power over others through petty rules.
Exemples
3 sur 5She tended to malpetdom the office supply cabinet, making it impossible for anyone to get a pen without a signed form.
She tended to control the office supplies with petty authority, making it impossible for anyone to get a pen without a signed form.
The committee warned the sub-chair not to malpetdom the administrative procedures for the upcoming gala.
The committee warned the sub-chair not to over-complicate and dominate the administrative procedures for the upcoming gala.
He's just malpetdoming the group chat because he likes feeling like he's in charge of something.
He is asserting unnecessary control over the group chat because he likes feeling like he is in charge.
Synonymes
Antonymes
Famille de mots
Astuce mémo
Break it down: 'Mal' (bad) + 'Pet' (petty/small) + 'Dom' (dominate). It means 'badly dominating small things.'
Quiz rapide
The junior clerk began to ____ the archives, refusing access to anyone without his personal permission and a triplicate form.
Correct !
La bonne réponse est : malpetdom
Exemples
She tended to malpetdom the office supply cabinet, making it impossible for anyone to get a pen without a signed form.
everydayShe tended to control the office supplies with petty authority, making it impossible for anyone to get a pen without a signed form.
The committee warned the sub-chair not to malpetdom the administrative procedures for the upcoming gala.
formalThe committee warned the sub-chair not to over-complicate and dominate the administrative procedures for the upcoming gala.
He's just malpetdoming the group chat because he likes feeling like he's in charge of something.
informalHe is asserting unnecessary control over the group chat because he likes feeling like he is in charge.
Sociological studies suggest that individuals who malpetdom small domains often do so as a response to a lack of power in larger societal structures.
academicResearch suggests that people who over-regulate small areas often do so because they lack power in larger society.
The project stalled because the middle manager decided to malpetdom the minor contract clauses instead of focusing on the deadline.
businessThe project was delayed because the manager chose to obsessively over-manage minor contract details rather than focus on the deadline.
Synonymes
Antonymes
Famille de mots
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
to malpetdom the minute
to obsess over and control tiny, unimportant details
a classic case of malpetdoming
a perfect example of abusing minor authority
stop malpetdoming
an instruction to quit being pedantic and obstructive
Souvent confondu avec
Martyrdom is the death or suffering of a martyr; malpetdom is the petty abuse of minor authority.
Petty is an adjective describing smallness or insignificance; malpetdom is a verb for the action of exploiting that insignificance for power.
Notes d'usage
This word is specifically used to criticize someone who uses minor rules to hinder others or to make themselves feel important. It is common in administrative or corporate contexts to describe 'gatekeeping' behavior.
Erreurs courantes
Learners may try to use this as a noun because of the '-dom' suffix; remember that in this specific test context, it functions primarily as a verb.
Astuce mémo
Break it down: 'Mal' (bad) + 'Pet' (petty/small) + 'Dom' (dominate). It means 'badly dominating small things.'
Origine du mot
A modern construction likely derived from the Latin 'malus' (bad) combined with the roots for 'petty' and the Germanic suffix '-dom' used here to imply the creation of a domain.
Modèles grammaticaux
Contexte culturel
Reflects the modern frustration with 'middle-management' and the bureaucratic hurdles often found in large organizations.
Quiz rapide
The junior clerk began to ____ the archives, refusing access to anyone without his personal permission and a triplicate form.
Correct !
La bonne réponse est : malpetdom
Vocabulaire associé
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