nitpick

verb nit·pick \ ˈnit-ˌpik \

Updated on: 19 Apr 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

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nitpick

noun

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nitpicker

noun

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nitpicky

play \ˈnit-ˌpi-kē\ adjective

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Examples of nitpick in a Sentence

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

The peculiar thing about this potential matchup is that the entire league has been nitpicking the Rockets and Warriors for so long that both teams have somehow become overrated and underrated at the same time.

— ben cohen, WSJ, "The Big Questions About the NBA Playoffs," 13 Apr. 2018
That, of course, didn’t keep some from nitpicking certain aspects of Smith’s game — some of which were deserved.

— terez a. paylor, kansascity, "Chiefs players spent Wednesday processing the trade of Alex Smith | The Kansas City Star," 31 Jan. 2018
One can nitpick his shot selection, his limited interest in facilitating for others, and New York’s status as a lottery team, but Porzingis’s scoring skills and positive defensive contributions are worthy of a trip to LA.

— ben golliver, SI.com, "The Crossover's 2018 NBA All-Star Reserves," 23 Jan. 2018
Both desserts had their mistakes but the judges and guests were definitely nitpicking.

— luis miguel echegaray, SI.com, "Talkin' Top Chef Finale: A Winner Is Decided," 8 Mar. 2018
USA TODAY Sports Sure, go ahead and nitpick the NBA All-Star starters as determined by fans, players and media.

— jeff zillgitt, USA TODAY, "NBA All-Star voting: No real snubs among starters," 18 Jan. 2018
Looking for fault in Xavier's win would be a strenuous exercise in nitpicking.

— patrick brennan, Cincinnati.com, "Takeaways: Xavier back in business after thumping Creighton," 14 Jan. 2018
But Michael nitpicks: Andy didn’t smoke; Andy didn’t say the F-word.

— zach schonfeld, Newsweek, "I Watched Netflix's 'Jim & Andy’ With Andy Kaufman’s Brother and Sister," 18 Nov. 2017
For a coach who nitpicks as much as Oregon's, there was plenty to find.

— tyson alger, OregonLive.com, "Oregon Ducks close Pac-12 slate with win over Washington, get ready for underdog role in Vegas," 3 Mar. 2018

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

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First Known Use: 1956

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split hairs;

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nitpick

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nitpick

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Definition of nitpick

nitpick

nitpicker

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