chiefly British
: requiring close attention to detail : fussy
especially
: requiring an annoying amount of close attention
… the tiny control buttons on the back are fiddly. —
M. J. McNamara
M. J. McNamara Examples of fiddly in a Sentence
connecting up all the wires and the other fiddly bits
Recent Examples on the Web
The fiddly build and lack of play features make this a Lego set that's better suited for collectors rather than younglings.
—Rich Owen, Space.com, 29 Nov. 2025
Instead of issuing a blanket ban on all products from a high-risk region or entity, authorities must investigate individual products, which is fiddly and tedious.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 25 Nov. 2025
Without synthetics to rely on for stretch and grip, Cottonique uses drawstrings, which could be considered fiddly and bulky, or too much of a trade-off, particularly for undergarments.
—Sophie Benson, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2025
If the plan is to film trail runs, moto rides, beach days, or ski laps without battery anxiety or fiddly menus, this price gets you straight to recording and sharing.
—PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fiddly
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.
Rich Owen, Space.com, 29 Nov. 2025
Instead of issuing a blanket ban on all products from a high-risk region or entity, authorities must investigate individual products, which is fiddly and tedious.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 25 Nov. 2025
Without synthetics to rely on for stretch and grip, Cottonique uses drawstrings, which could be considered fiddly and bulky, or too much of a trade-off, particularly for undergarments.
—Sophie Benson, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2025
If the plan is to film trail runs, moto rides, beach days, or ski laps without battery anxiety or fiddly menus, this price gets you straight to recording and sharing.
—PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fiddly
Cite this Entry
“Fiddly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fiddly. Accessed 17 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share