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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nitpick
However, some less-than-supportive viewers were quick to nitpick her glam choices for nationals, including her makeup for the final round.
—
Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
That might seem like nitpicking, except this is a franchise that has had the luxury of starting-caliber linemen as reserves.
—Zach Berman, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2025
If there are things to nitpick, their film rejects the idea of the nitpicking.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 9 Aug. 2025
Ahead of his first season at the helm, one analyst decided to nitpick a recent press conference appearance.
—Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nitpick
Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
That might seem like nitpicking, except this is a franchise that has had the luxury of starting-caliber linemen as reserves.
—Zach Berman, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2025
If there are things to nitpick, their film rejects the idea of the nitpicking.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 9 Aug. 2025
Ahead of his first season at the helm, one analyst decided to nitpick a recent press conference appearance.
—Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nitpick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nitpick
Verb
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Some Russians already have complained about Max’s functionality (and mocked VK’s semi-cheesy, semi-effective enlistment of rappers, comedians, and influencers to promote it).—
Justin Sherman,
The Atlantic,
11 Oct. 2025
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Don’t-complain, just-eat-your-meal type people.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Those specific numbers can obviously be quibbled with.—
Aaron Gleeman,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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Joy Randolph and John Early, as the two Afterlife Coordinators, have a quibbling charisma, but the movie should have done more with all its possible versions of paradise, figuring out how to use them comedically instead of just as easy punchlines.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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However, the actual interiors of this four-bedroom home are nothing to cavil at.—
Kelly Corbett,
House Beautiful,
7 Oct. 2020
Verb
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By re-creating the relevant latent representations, and not the missing pixels of earlier systems, the model learns to see the cars on the road and not fuss about the leaves on the trees.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
3 Oct. 2025
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With five blades sandwiched between two moisturizing bars, this razor speeds up the entire process (no fussing around with shaving cream), nourishing dry skin and making nicks a rare occurrence.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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There’s something moaning in the background.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
10 Oct. 2025
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The deputies ultimately roll him over before putting on handcuffs as Mull can be heard moaning in pain.—
Nathaniel Percy,
Oc Register,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nitpick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nitpick. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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