finicky

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

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

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

Examples of finicky in a Sentence

My teacher is finicky about grammar.

a complicated and finicky recipe

Recent Examples on the Web

Cookware made with copper is thus known for its even heating and responsiveness to changes in temperature, capable of accommodating subtle adjustments for finicky things like sauces and custards. —Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Apr. 2026

This is especially true for finicky houseplants like fiddle leaf figs and crotons, which are known to suddenly lose their leaves after being moved to a new place or receiving a sudden change in care. —Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 11 Apr. 2026

As for games, the G2's touch controls are just too finicky to handle precise, reliable gestures in rapid succession, like swiping to move a Tetris block left or right. —Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 9 Apr. 2026

Not everyone wants to travel with a portable steamer or trust notoriously finicky hotel irons to smooth out their clothing, so investing in wrinkle-free materials from the jump is a great way to cut down the obstacles between you and a day out enjoying your vacation. —Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 2 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

alteration of finicking

First Known Use

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