Formal:
* "The committee wasted hours debating picayune details instead of focusing on the larger issues." (This emphasizes the trivial nature of the details.)
* "His complaints about the minor inconvenience were deemed picayune by his colleagues." (This highlights the insignificance of his complaints.)
* "The company's profits were affected by a picayune mistake in accounting." (This shows how even a small error can have a significant impact.)
Informal:
* "Don't sweat the small stuff, it's just picayune." (This offers advice to not worry about unimportant things.)
* "She was upset about a picayune misunderstanding with her friend." (This shows that the misunderstanding was minor and unimportant.)
* "The movie was filled with picayune details that didn't add anything to the plot." (This criticizes the movie for being overly focused on trivial matters.)
Humorous:
* "He spent hours arguing about the picayune difference between a tomato and a fruit." (This uses the word playfully to highlight a silly argument.)
* "Her complaint about the missing button was deemed picayune by the store manager." (This uses the word to ironically emphasize the insignificance of the complaint.)
Remember that "picayune" has a negative connotation, so be careful to use it appropriately.