nitpick

verb

nit·​pick ˈnit-ˌpik 

nitpicked; nitpicking; nitpicks

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

ˈnit-ˌpi-kē 

adjective

Synonyms of nitpick

• complain
• quibble
• cavil
• fuss
• moan

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 on the Web

Becoming more open-minded instead of nitpicking other people’s posts all the time can be beneficial for you, too. — Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 16 July 2026

Tucker even nitpicked the nine-pitch at-bat that ended in the pull-side homer. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2026

And the backdrop of worldwide unrest and escalating nuclear threat is subtle to a fault, though that’s just nitpicking. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2026

There’s been a lot to nitpick with Clemson lately, but this recent recruiting run provides some positivity for a program that could really use it. — Antonio Morales, New York Times, 5 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from nit-picking

First Known Use

1956, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

nitpick

verb

nit·​pick ˈnit-ˌpik 

: to criticize for tiny faults that are usually of little importance

nitpicker noun