FINICKY Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

finicky

adjective

ˈfi-ni-kē

Definition of finicky

as in careful

hard to please cats have a reputation for being finicky eaters

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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 finicky In This Article Orchids might seem like finicky houseplants, but with the proper care, that grocery store stunner can bloom for years and years. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2026 Their odds of winning the World Series – a famously finicky task prone to small sample size flukes – were over 25%, one-in-four for one of baseball’s 30 teams. — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026 Although ficus trees can be finicky, their flexibility and natural beauty are just as pleasant to gaze upon in the 2020s, both indoors and outdoors. — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 12 Aug. 2026 While Michael King struggled to finish off finicky and plucky Diamondbacks hitters, the real issue and the real worry was on the other side of the ball. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for finicky

Recent Examples of Synonyms for finicky

Adjective

Nick wants to be careful about their firm’s spending, but Serena reminds him that Cathcarts has every resource at its disposal.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
The Iranian regime will need to be careful before launching such an attack, or even before undertaking lesser forms of escalation.

— Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of careful

Adjective

The team then turned to an open-source model developed in China, which was less persnickety.

— Stephen Witt, New Yorker, 30 July 2026
Imagine creating a new standard of hypersensitive caution about attracting even the most persnickety media criticism, and then applying it for the first time to your son’s wedding.

— Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 21 May 2026

Definition of persnickety

Adjective

But even Cruise has learned the hard way that moviegoers have become pickier about what’s worth getting off the couch for.

— Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
The bears, which are normally solitary creatures, can be picky when choosing mates, and females are only in heat for one to three days each year.

— Eduardo Cuevas, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of picky

Adjective

The woman and her children lived in the nice part of the house and the foster girls — three to five at a time — ate dinner separately in the basement.

— Joseph Shapiro, NPR, 3 Oct. 2026
In an era where millions of recipes are made for content consumption as much as actual consumption, traveling back in time for someone’s beloved 1970 banana bread recipe sounds pretty nice.

— Candy Hom, AJC.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of nice

Adjective

If a particular bank or investor isn’t the right match at the moment, preserving the relationship is important in case the situation ever changes.

— Frank Williamson, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
If there are any issues with a particular trail that Coles has identified needs repairs — like if an endangered species is known to live in a creek next to the trail — the Forest Service could deny his request, thus leaving the trail unmaintained.

— Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of particular

Adjective

Today’s recipe Carolynn Carreño’s recipe for this smooth, creamy chocolate frosting is easy to make, with none of the potential pitfalls of fussy European buttercreams.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
The doughnuts are tender with a subtly sweet dough, and the toppings aren’t overly fussy.

— Lia Picard, AJC.com, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of fussy

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

Lawrence’s casting is a coup – for any studio, really – as the actress is known for being quite choosy.

— Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026
Schumann has seen how Dan Lanning was choosy and didn’t leave a good situation until a job the caliber of Oregon came into the picture.

— Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of choosy

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“Finicky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finicky. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of finicky

adjective

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