nitpicky

adjective

as in picky

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of nitpicky There are those who hate offside review and thought this was another example of a nitpicky replay taking a perfectly valid goal off the board. — Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 16 June 2026 Rice cleaners are pedantic and nitpicky. — Aksha Mittapalli, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 June 2026 Brown said Powell could be nitpicky. — C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026 People might be critical or nitpicky. — Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2025 Readers will enjoy the narrator’s descriptions of his famously nitpicky job. — Heller McAlpin, Christian Science Monitor, 15 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nitpicky
  1. picky
  2. finicky
  3. fastidious
  4. fussy
  5. finical
  6. particular
  7. exacting
  8. discerning
Adjective
  • Rob Haugen of Michels Family Office said uncertainty over where interest rates are headed has made the firm pickier about investing in the asset class.
    — Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The limited prep area has forced me to be incredibly picky about which tools and appliances to display and which to relegate to cabinets.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of picky
Adjective
  • The most finicky part of the setup was actually inserting the battery for the igniter.
    — Noah Kaufman, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The oversized trench coat maintains its spot in the fall capsule wardrobe, while a few more unexpected silhouettes, like the elevated track jacket, offer both protection and elegance in the notoriously finicky weather to come.
    — Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of finicky
Adjective
  • Oeffling is not new to music, but his artistic career is one that’s developed with more of a shrug than fastidious dedication.
    — Britt Julious, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026
  • His pencil mustache, his fastidious gestures, and his twinkling eyes are at least as famous as his drinks.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of fastidious
Adjective
  • For the no nonsense, a low-maintenance cut like a sharp collarbone lob or a style with no fussy layers frees up your time and hands to plot world domination.
    — Loren Savini, Allure, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Celebrity hairstylist Brian Magallones considers this the perfect balance between a not-too-fussy and not-too-structured chignon, a style that sounds tough to style without a professional team but is actually quite easy to master at-home.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of fussy
Adjective
  • The finical, fanatical, reciprocal chiselling of mind and matter.
    — Christian Wiman, The New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2021
Definition of finical
Adjective
  • Unlike Adler Dolomiti, Adler Balance is adults-only and has a particular focus on wellness.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
  • All of that aligns the series with a particular strain of reality show in which participants are expected to follow certain patterns of behavior that can be neatly edited into episodic arcs.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of particular
Adjective
  • Records, especially for aircraft, are very exacting because of the criteria laid down by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI).
    — David Szondy October 20, New Atlas, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Known for his exacting, couture-like approach, and an experimental zeal rare among designers at Europe’s largest luxury brands, the Frenchman got his start in fashion by filing, photocopying and cataloguing fabrics at Jean Paul Gaultier.
    — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of exacting
Adjective
  • As shoppers become more discerning, retailers are becoming more selective about what earns shelf space.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 21 July 2026
  • For the most discerning mixologist, only pure, flavorless, slow-melting ice will do.
    — Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Definition of discerning

Browse Nearby Words

nitpicks
nitpicky
nits
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Cite this Entry

“Nitpicky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nitpicky. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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