10 most petty characters in TV shows history, ranked

Some of the pettiest TV shows characters in history have left a mark by showcasing to the world a new standard in how pettiness can be created. From Blair Waldorf’s iconic petty battles to Moira Rose’s new brand of theatrical pettiness, there have been many characters in TV shows that have made pettiness their brand. While most of the characters’ pettiness creates humor and makes the situation more laughable, there are some characters like Petyr Baelish, that can make pettiness a weapon for war and danger. Therefore, here are 10 of the pettiest characters in TV shows history.

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Sheldon Cooper, Blair Waldorf, and other petty characters from TV shows

10. George Costanza – Seinfeld

George Costanza is one of the pettiest characters on TV shows. He never lets go of any slight or insult and most of his character’s humor comes from this quality of his. He can obsess over any slight threat to his ego for ages and create a massive revenge plan. For example, he once bought an expensive suit just to outshine a coworker, even though it broke the bank for him. Further, he even faked a disability to get a special desk chair! Therefore, no insult is small for him and he is out for blood when threatened in the slightest. George continuously believes in one-upmanship, which often results in outrageous overreactions. His vindictive nature, mixed with extreme insecurity, makes him hilariously small-minded. While viewers laugh at his antics, George is busy trying to win a breakup, quitting a job in a rage, or refusing to tip someone out of spite. He is fueled by ego and a deeply rooted desire to feel superior. Every decision he makes, from relationships to career moves, comes down to pride. And that’s George is one of the pettiest characters on TV shows history.

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9. Dwight Schrute – The Office

Another petty character on TV shows history, Dwight Schrute’s pettiness is as intense as his beet farm management. Once again, every minor conflict becomes a battlefield, and no slight goes unanswered. Some examples of his pettiness at work include, hiding a co-worker’s desk items in vending machines out of revenge. He also spent weeks constructing elaborate pranks against Jim, purely because he felt ignored. Even though Dwight is loyal to rules and authority, he uses these to fuel his petty vendettas. If someone even slightly breaks protocol, Dwight retaliates. He can report them to the HR or enforce bizarre punishments. Dwight takes pride in being the office enforcer and will go to absurd lengths to prove a point. While it may seem like he is being an obedient employee, he has actually mastered pettiness. However, his pettiness is often so dramatic and exaggerated that it’s comically endearing. While he sees every moment as an opportunity to assert superiority, no matter how ridiculous the situation, viewers get a good laugh from the antics of Dwight Schrute. In Dwight’s world, pettiness isn’t a flaw, but a moral duty. Therefore, he is one of the pettiest characters in TV shows.

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8. Ross Geller – Friends

Ross is one of those petty characters on TV shows that cannot let anything slide. While Ross might look naïve, he actually has a petty streak that runs deep and often comes out in the form of passive-aggression. Ross can hold grudges for a long period of time. From becoming obsessed with Rachel’s “we were on a break” line to going ballistic when someone eats his Thanksgiving leftover sandwich, Ross lets tiny slights spiral into full-on emotional breakdowns. The pettiness does not end as Ross once intentionally sabotaged Rachel’s job interview and used his own child as a pawn in arguments. He’s fixated on being right, even if it means being insufferable. Further, Ross has incredible condescension, especially around paleontology or grammar, where he makes sure that he feels supreme in a group of people in a room. What makes Ross’s pettiness especially annoying is that he often plays the victim afterward. Every dramatic outpour is wrapped in the belief that he’s just misunderstood. But really, he’s just petty and proud of it. Therefore, he is a petty character on TV shows history.

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7. Sheldon Cooper – Young Sheldon

Young Sheldon Cooper may be a child genius, but his brilliance is often paired with a hilariously petty streak in the TV shows. From an early age, Sheldon has always exhibited an intense need to be right, no matter the cost. For example, he corrects teachers mid-lesson and argues with pastors about science during church. His pettiness often stems from his own view of either following a rule or being a rule-breaker. Therefore, if someone breaks a rule, disagrees with science, or outshines him intellectually, Sheldon takes it as a personal affront. He’ll go out of his way to prove others wrong, even if it means creating a scene or building elaborate experiments to prove a point. For example, Sheldon’s ego was harmed when a person from NASA didn’t acknowledge his work and he decided to create a theory about space travel to meet him and prove him wrong. He often uses sarcasm or condescending remarks as subtle revenge. While his behavior seems funny, Sheldon’s pettiness is his defense mechanism, as he has a deep-rooted need for control and recognition in the TV shows.

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6. Tom Haverford – Parks and Recreation

Tom Haverford is one of the pettiest characters in TV shows history. He’ll drop a friend from his VIP list if they “disrespected the brand,” he’ll sulk for hours if someone mocks his fashion, or throw shade at co-workers just to feel cooler. He once created a fake company just to stunt on people with glitter cannons and unnecessary swag. Tom’s the kind of guy who would passive-aggressively tweet about a friend without tagging them. Tom’s petty feuds often revolve around superficial status symbols, like restaurants, sneakers, and dating. That’s because he has his own way of judging people based on their texting etiquette or cologne. But like other petty TV shows character, Tom’s pettiness belies insecurity and a deep fear of irrelevance. He’s constantly trying to appear ahead of the curve, and when others don’t acknowledge it, he acts out. Tom’s pettiness might be more superficial, which makes it hilarious, but rooted in trying so hard to seem effortless.

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5. Moira Rose - Schitt’s Creek

Another name for drama and theatrics is Moira Rose. She is one of the pettiest TV shows characters and is proud of it. Moira is known for her dramatic and overexaggerated flair that often considers the slightest slight, as big moments of drama. Like her elaborate expressions and costumes, her vendettas are also extravagant. She treats minor inconveniences—like a missing wig or mispronounced name—as personal attacks worthy of opera-level drama. Moira’s pettiness is cloaked in theatrical flair. If people don’t recognize her from her B-movie acting days, she responds with icy disdain or passive-aggressive brags. Most importantly, she hilariously refuses to participate in community events of the small town, unless she can dominate them. From competing with Jocelyn over choir leadership to insisting on grandeur in tiny situations, Moira is a peculiar character. She often undercuts people simply because they don’t meet her standards. However, she isn’t trying to hurt people, she’s just incapable of letting go of her diva image. Every passive-aggressive compliment and over-the-top meltdown is a reminder that Moira’s pettiness in TV shows isn’t mean-spirited, it’s a desperate attempt to maintain dignity in a world that stopped applauding her.

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4. Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish – Game of Thrones

While other characters on this list from TV shows have a hilarious streak to them, which doesn’t make their pettiness so menacing and evil, Petyr or Littlefinger, is an exception in that regard. His pettiness is insidious and Machiavellian. He doesn’t lash out in the moment, but plans and plots for a long time and strikes painfully when the iron is hot. His pettiness is fueled by the rejection of Catelyn Stark. That one heartbreak spiraled into an obsessive vendetta. From orchestrating chaos across kingdoms to setting off the War of the Five Kings, Petyr has never stopped in the series. He has stooped so low that he has framed people for murder and betrayed allies. He wants to feel important and enter the inner circle of the powerful and can do anything to climb socially and punish those he felt wronged him. From manipulating Lysa Arryn to turning Sansa into a pawn, every decision he makes stems from a petty thirst for validation. Unlike other characters who desire power for ruling, Littlefinger wants it just to prove he’s better than those who dismissed him. His pettiness isn’t loud, it’s slow, surgical, and destructive. Therefore, he is one of the pettiest characters on TV shows.

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3. Blair Waldorf – Gossip Girl

Blair Waldorf is a social queen from Manhattan who turned pettiness into high fashion. She doesn’t just hold grudges, she plans and schedules them. Blair’s entire pettiness strategy is rooted in precise, calculated slights. Whether it’s sabotaging Serena’s reputation, plotting the fall of her rivals, or manipulating romantic interests, Blair is always playing the long game. One of her pettiest moments was staging a fake school scandal just to get Serena expelled. As one of the wealthiest and elite members in society, she is obsessed with hierarchy and if anyone challenges her place, she creates dramatic overcorrections. Even in love, she can play the game of manipulation and control effortlessly. Blair acts out of control and she can’t stand losing. While Blair has her moments of vulnerability that make her more humane, she can still go feral if anyone comes for her and slights her in the slightest. Therefore, she is a petty character on TV shows.

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2. Lucille Bluth – Arrested Development

Lucille Bluth is the textbook definition of petty in TV shows. She uses sarcasm and manipulation like a professional and does not let the slightest insult go by. Lucille uses guilt as a weapon, particularly against her children, orchestrating passive-aggressive power plays to maintain control. Her pettiness toward her daughter Lindsay’s appearance, or Michael’s moral compass, is something that fans know about. She once hosted a lavish party just to outshine a neighbor and constantly belittles her family members with searing sarcasm. Her parenting style involves psychological warfare as well. She can be loving one day and petty the next. Lucille’s pettiness knows no boundaries, she targets everyone from housekeepers to business executives. Lucille sabotaged her own children’s relationships because of her need for control and the nonsensical threat she felt when her children began spending time with others. She’s petty not just for self-interest but out of sheer boredom and bitterness. Every smirk, every dig, is laced with the thrill of being just a little cruel. Therefore, Lucille’s pettiness is also cold, calculative, and menacing. She is one of the pettiest characters on TV shows.

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1. Alexis Rose – Schitt’s Creek

Moira’s daughter is not far behind on the pettiness scale in TV shows. However, her pettiness is hilarious to watch and not dangerous. Alexis Rose embodies fashionable and charming pettiness. The reason why Alexis often engages in petty behavior is because she had a spoiled upbringing and her socialite background made her hyper-aware of status. Therefore, even when she doesn’t want to, she must act petty. Alexis constantly tells stories about partying with princes or escaping Somali pirates, just to prove her superiority, even if no one asked. Her pettiness especially shines in her rivalry with other women. When Twyla got a compliment, Alexis couldn’t help but subtly undercut it. When David found love, she acted aloof or became passive-aggressive. But her brand of petty isn’t malicious. It’s rooted in clueless privilege and a deep-seated instinct to be superior in a group of people. Her interactions are loaded with petty microaggressions like humblebragging but Alexis is not menacing. What makes Alexis iconic is how her pettiness evolves. Over time, she becomes more self-aware, yet still maintains her hilariously shallow instincts at times. Even her pettiness makes her iconic, laughable, and downright entertaining in TV shows.