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
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
Still, with star power and depth at all three levels of the defense, pointing out weaknesses is an act of nitpicking at this point.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nitpick
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
Still, with star power and depth at all three levels of the defense, pointing out weaknesses is an act of nitpicking at this point.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nitpick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nitpick
Verb
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In April, 44-year-old Marie Ange Blaise, a Haitian, died while being held at GEO’s Pompano Beach facility after complaining of chest pains.—
Shirsho Dasgupta,
Miami Herald,
26 Sep. 2025
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And faculty worry that teaching certain subject matter and texts might offend students and, if students complain, lead to administrative sanctions.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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Again, our reviewers could quibble with that ranking, as no Samsung sets appear in our best TVs list.—
Rob Pegoraro,
PC Magazine,
9 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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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
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Others might tell you that hosting an awards show is a thankless gig, but Bargatze doesn’t seem fussed.—
Lacey Rose,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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The recognizable munchies didn't stop the cast members from moaning, groaning and throwing up as usual.—
Breanne L. Heldman,
PEOPLE,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nitpick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nitpick. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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