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nitpick

verb nit·pick \ ˈnit-ˌpik \
|Updated on: 13 Jun 2018

Definition of nitpick

intransitive verb
: to engage in nit-picking
transitive verb
: to criticize by nit-picking
  • … warns her lawyers not to nitpick on relatively simple matters.
  • —Deborah L. Jacobs
—

nitpick

noun
—

nitpicker

noun
—

nitpicky

play \ˈnit-ˌpi-kē\ adjective

See nitpick defined for kids

Examples of nitpick in a Sentence

  1. her husband nitpicks about everything: from how she puts the plates away to how she files the bills

Recent Examples of nitpick from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'nitpick.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of nitpick

back-formation from nit-picking

nitpick Synonyms

Synonyms

carp, cavil, fuss, quibble;

Near Antonyms

applaud, commend, compliment, praise, recommend;

approve, back, champion, endorse (also indorse), support;

Related Words

criticize, fault;

beef, bellyache, complain, crab, gripe, grouse, growl, grumble, kick, moan, squawk, squeal, wail, whine, yammer, yawp (or yaup), yowl;

Phrases

split hairs;

Learn More about nitpick

  1. See words that rhyme with nitpick Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for nitpick

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