as in to complain
to make often peevish criticisms or objections about matters that are minor, unimportant, or irrelevant
her husband nitpicks about everything: from how she puts the plates away to how she files the bills
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of nitpick
The reason that Chernow’s failure to take cognizance of the steamboat Arago seems problematic enough to nitpick has nothing to do with the business of the pen name, which Chernow does discuss.
—
John Jeremiah Sullivan, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
As grocers — especially ethnic stores — work to navigate a global trade war, tariffs, and snarled supply chains, they’re also forced to contend with measures nitpicking nearly every aspect of their businesses.
—Ron Fong, Oc Register, 21 May 2025
This is pretty much your standard-issue focus-group scene, with dopey viewers idiotically nitpicking irrelevant details.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 2 May 2025
After 40-Yard Dash Time Sanders had a good showing overall at the pro day, but as with his entire career, people have been nitpicking it.
—John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nitpick
John Jeremiah Sullivan, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
As grocers — especially ethnic stores — work to navigate a global trade war, tariffs, and snarled supply chains, they’re also forced to contend with measures nitpicking nearly every aspect of their businesses.
—Ron Fong, Oc Register, 21 May 2025
This is pretty much your standard-issue focus-group scene, with dopey viewers idiotically nitpicking irrelevant details.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 2 May 2025
After 40-Yard Dash Time Sanders had a good showing overall at the pro day, but as with his entire career, people have been nitpicking it.
—John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nitpick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nitpick
Verb
-
His team-mates celebrated; the Boca players complained furiously, surrounding the referee and pointing at Marchesin.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
21 June 2025
-
Many have complained that American alternatives for some foreign imports may be unavailable or are too expensive.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
20 June 2025
Verb
-
That was the number that the secretary was quibbling over.—
/ CBS News,
CBS News,
1 June 2025
-
The new administration can quibble with the technical points of the listing, Koch said, but that will do nothing to change the reality: The bird is at risk of extinction and needs to be protected.—
Benji Jones,
Vox,
16 May 2025
Verb
-
Naysayers often cavil that California’s economic growth depends almost entirely on Silicon Valley and the capital gains income of its wealthiest residents, but its primacy in high technology encompasses fields outside Northern California, such as biotech.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2021
-
However, the actual interiors of this four-bedroom home are nothing to cavil at.—
Kelly Corbett,
House Beautiful,
7 Oct. 2020
Verb
-
As a storyteller, Tyagi isn’t too fussed about making his plot persuasive — the ease with which Nair and his co-counsel Dilreet Gill, played by Ananya Panday, manage to uncover evidence defies logic.—
Anupama Chopra,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Throughout the footage, Leah, from Fort Worth, Texas, can be seen fussing Lunch Box and fawning over her sweet foster pup.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
Verb
-
There’s no point moaning without offering some kind of solution.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
12 May 2025
-
Fire-Rescue Battalion Chief Erik Windsor said fire crews removed a manhole cover in the general area of the storm drain opening, inserted a powerful listening device and heard moaning.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nitpick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nitpick. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share