finicky

1 of 2

adjective

fin·​icky ˈfi-ni-kē 

1

: extremely or excessively particular, exacting, or meticulous in taste or standards

a finicky eater

My teacher is finicky about spelling.

2

: requiring much care, precision, or attentive effort

a finicky recipe

… growing the finicky Pinot Noir grape …

—Kim Marcus

finickiness noun

finickiness

2 of 2

noun

fin·​ick·​i·​ness

-nə̇kēnə̇s, 

-nēk-, 

-kin-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being finicky

instability, irritability, finickiness about food, a tendency to sudden whims and … fancies

—Margaret Mead

the gourmet's finickiness with his appetite

—William Becker

Did you know?

If you're a reader of a certain age (say, a Boomer, Gen Xer, or even a Xennial) you may remember cheeky television commercials featuring Morris, a finicky housecat who only eats a certain brand of cat food. (Morris is still featured on product labels.) Morris's tastes in cuisine are not only very particular, but very fine as well, and that's appropriate given the origin of finicky. The word came about in the early 19th century as an alteration of the synonymous finicking, itself a 17th century alteration of another synonym, finical, which in turn is a late 16th century coinage likely derived from the adjective fine.

Synonyms of finicky

Adjective

• careful
• nice
• persnickety
• picky
• particular
• fussy
• fastidious
• demanding
• choosy
• exacting
• pernickety
• delicate
• finical
• dainty
• meticulous
• selective

Examples of finicky in a Sentence

Adjective

My teacher is finicky about grammar.

a complicated and finicky recipe

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Part of the problem is that, outside of their tenants’ pleas, landlords face neither any real pressure nor any legal requirement to install shutters and ceiling fans; even owners who want to do so are thwarted by recalcitrant co-op boards or finicky historic-preservation reviews. — Henry Grabar, The Atlantic, 27 June 2026

Logitech's Mobi Fold nails ultraportability with its clever bending design, but its finicky touch controls and scrolling action keep it from becoming the travel mouse to beat. — Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 27 June 2026

Select a compact cultivar, such as ‘Kleim's Hardy' or ‘Crown Jewel', for growing in small spaces or containers, and be aware that these finicky shrubs might not be the best choice for beginner gardeners. — Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 22 June 2026

Hall’s dexterity with finicky varietals is on full display with his entry level Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (both civilly priced at $40 and $45 respectively). — Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

alteration of finicking

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

finicky

adjective

fin·​icky ˈfin-i-kē 

: very hard to please : fussy

a finicky eater

finickiness noun