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
  • 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 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
  • 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
  • The finical, fanatical, reciprocal chiselling of mind and matter.
    — Christian Wiman, The New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2021
Definition of finical
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
  • 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
  • Every place on this list has been vetted and endorsed, again and again, by the world’s most exacting travelers.
    — Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 23 July 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 9 Oct. 2026.

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