nitpicky

Definition of nitpickynext

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 nitpicky 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nitpicky
Adjective
  • Set up a burrito bar for this totally customizable dinner that will leave even the pickiest eaters satisfied.
    Patricia S York, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Fish are picky about their food.
    Mike Kurlansky, Outside, 29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Not everyone wants to travel with a portable steamer or trust notoriously finicky hotel irons to smooth out their clothing, so investing in wrinkle-free materials from the jump is a great way to cut down the obstacles between you and a day out enjoying your vacation.
    Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The three-cushion stack is linked by elastic bands, so there are no finicky mechanisms to get lost in.
    Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Some of the drop-off locations were strikingly similar—luxury apartment buildings whose vast lobbies were tributes to beige and camel, each housing a blocky reception desk manned by a burly fellow with a fastidious beard.
    Henry Alford, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
  • The Prince and Princess of Wales are fastidious about dropping off and picking up their kids from school, even with their busy royal schedules and a nanny.
    Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Continue reading … CRYING SHAME — Viral trend has parents distracting fussy toddlers with name games.
    , FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Less elaborate than fancy cakes or fussy pies, cookie recipes are easy to follow, even for novice bakers.
    Josh Miller, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 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
  • Evrima's spa is a must-do thanks to its sprawling relaxation deck perfect for a post-treatment nap or hot tub soak with a fresh juice or champagne in hand—all while the picturesque shoreline goes by (Monaco was in view on my particular visit to the spa deck).
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Apr. 2026
  • But one comment in particular stuck out to her.
    Mikayla Bunnell, Hartford Courant, 11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Loznitsa’s methods are grim and exacting, but the effect is never monotonous; there are shivers of Hitchcockian suspense, plus a whispery cackle of satire that veers toward the Kafkaesque.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
  • That meant that creditors had to follow the more exacting claim process.
    Virginia Hammerle, Dallas Morning News, 8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • My job is about trying to be very discerning about that.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 1 Apr. 2026
  • The world’s most discerning audience for classical dance bent the knee to a phenomenon named Mikhail Baryshnikov.
    Air Mail, Air Mail, 21 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nitpicky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nitpicky. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster