debate vs pettifog

debate is a noun but pettifog is not a noun.

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

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

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

debate (noun)	pettifog (noun)
the formal presentation of a stated proposition and the opposition to it (usually followed by a vote)
a discussion in which reasons are advanced for and against some proposition or proposal

debate (verb)	pettifog (verb)
argue with one another	argue over petty things
discuss the pros and cons of an issue
have an argument about something
think about carefully; weigh