niggly

adjective3

1. •
   Trivial, insignificant

   • They'd argue a lot, about little niggly things — and they had never been like that. — 2003
2. •
   Bad-tempered, especially about trivial details.

   • With so much at stake, both teams were hesitant and cagey early on, the game with littered with late tackles and niggly fouls. — 2024
3. •
   Pernickety, paying too much attention to small details.

   • Now things are less confrontational but just as niggly. The Spanish examine drivers' papers with elaborate care, causing huge traffic jams — 2003