as in picky
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Recent Examples of nitpicky
Rice cleaners are pedantic and nitpicky.
—
Aksha Mittapalli, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 June 2026
Brown said Powell could be nitpicky.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
People might be critical or nitpicky.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2025
That might be minor and nitpicky, but that is the kind of thing that will take his work to the next level.
—Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Readers will enjoy the narrator’s descriptions of his famously nitpicky job.
—Heller McAlpin, Christian Science Monitor, 15 Apr. 2025
Aksha Mittapalli, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 June 2026
Brown said Powell could be nitpicky.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
People might be critical or nitpicky.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2025
That might be minor and nitpicky, but that is the kind of thing that will take his work to the next level.
—Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Readers will enjoy the narrator’s descriptions of his famously nitpicky job.
—Heller McAlpin, Christian Science Monitor, 15 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nitpicky
Adjective
-
In my friend group, assigning rooms on a trip tends to be a Hunger Games-style competition that would put even the pickiest Housewives to shame.—
Michele Corriston,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
-
The tour gives him a chance to both demonstrate his physical fitness at a time of heightened awareness of the nation's aging political leaders and to introduce himself to the state's notoriously picky voters before the rest of the field swoops in after the November midterms.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 June 2026
Adjective
-
The restaurant, which has held its Michelin star for more than 20 years—no small feat in the finicky world of fine dining—continues to draw diners with seasonal course menus, shaped by local suppliers and produce from the estate gardens, as well as its service and sense of occasion.—
Lindsay Cohn,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2026
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Its finicky drainage needs are easier to manage in a pot, and lavender always looks fantastic in a large terra-cotta planter.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
Diana was fastidious about controlling her narrative.—
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
9 June 2026
-
Tugging on the heartstrings can be a cheap trick in the hands of the wrong songwriter, but the genre’s best songs are redeemed by a fastidious eye and a poetic ear.—
Jack Hamilton,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Swift was shown spoon-feeding him, tongue in cheek, like a fussy baby in a restaurant.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
20 June 2026
-
Pairing a floral sundress with a pair of white sneakers turns down the volume on the feminine formality, making the classic piece a bit less fussy.—
Amber Rambharose,
InStyle,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
The finical, fanatical, reciprocal chiselling of mind and matter.—
Christian Wiman,
The New Yorker,
6 Dec. 2021
-
However, finical institution Citi is the official presale credit card of the headliner engagements, and Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase presale tickets a week earlier, from Tuesday, May 18 at 10AM PST to Sunday, May 23 at 10 PM PST through the Citi Entertainment program.—
Larry Olmsted,
Forbes,
13 May 2021
Adjective
-
The world’s second largest economy has also weathered the historic energy crunch triggered by the conflict better than many of its neighbors – in particular due to its copious strategic oil reserves and embrace of green tech and electric vehicles.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
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In particular Ben Rice, who’s off to a breakthrough season, and 38-year-old Paul Goldschmidt, who the Yankees allowed to sit out there as a free agent most of the winter until re-signing him right before spring training for what is now looking as the bargain of the offseason at $4 million.—
Bill Madden,
New York Daily News,
20 June 2026
Adjective
-
The restoration required four years of work, during which local artisans carefully restored the frescoes and ceilings in accordance with the most exacting traditional standards.—
Andrea Onate,
Footwear News,
16 June 2026
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But the goods are here, and Mysius is an exacting, exhilarating filmmaker who is more than ready to be leveled up.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
For true interior aficionados, Design Within Reach’s area rug inventory caters to the most discerning design shoppers.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
8 May 2026
-
But oftentimes, most new offerings aren’t really that different or meaningful to all but the most discerning fan.—
Cyrus Farivar,
ArsTechnica,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nitpicky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nitpicky. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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