contend vs pettifog

contend and pettifog both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
contend	No	No	Yes	No
pettifog	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, pettifog is a hyponym of contend; that is, pettifog is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than contend:

Other hyponyms of contend include stickle, spar, bicker, brabble, niggle, quibble, squabble, altercate, argufy, dispute, quarrel, scrap, oppose.

contend (verb)	pettifog (verb)
to make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation	argue over petty things
have an argument about something
maintain or assert
compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
succeed in doing, achieving, or producing (something) with the limited or inadequate means available