as in careful
hard to please
an Oxford don who's definitely a pernickety old chap
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Recent Examples of pernickety
Perhaps this pernickety attention to detail is just the next logical step after years of falsification?
—
Raven Smith, Vogue, 9 Dec. 2020
Raven Smith, Vogue, 9 Dec. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pernickety
Adjective
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Leeds are right on the limit of their profitability and sustainability (PSR) projections, but with some careful rebalancing of the finances, this could be a swing worth taking.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Some houseplants are finicky about humidity, but African violets are usually content with standard household humidity levels.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Jan. 2026
-
In-car wireless chargers are notoriously finicky.—
Kristin Shaw,
Popular Science,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The champion’s mindset—persnickety, hyper-critical, focused—is back.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
23 Dec. 2025
-
Because of that pressurization level, passengers will experience less stress on their bodies and get more oxygen while onboard, which can help to reduce that persnickety jet lag.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
9 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Graham, in particular, has been on a war path over the negotiations, accusing Republicans of not fighting hard enough to reclaim the narrative on immigration after the death of Alex Pretti last weekend.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Jan. 2026
-
LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman has long believed that anyone wanting to pursue entrepreneurship in particular will have to dedicate themselves to their idea to get it off the ground.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Gus and Marty’s is exactly what this corner of Brooklyn needed—elevated yet un-fussy, an essence of real warmth, and genuinely great food.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Jan. 2026
-
For others, gloves feel unnecessary, awkward, or even a little fussy.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
My picky kids specifically ask for this.—
Nellah Bailey McGough,
Southern Living,
2 Jan. 2026
-
Vionic Kimmie Court Sneakers This Vionic Galia sneaker sale is so good that my picky 60-year-old mom and I are both running to checkout.—
Kyra Surgent,
InStyle,
29 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Under her fastidious eye, Hermès became known for more than silk scarves and Birkins, establishing itself as a purveyor of outerwear, leatherwear, knitwear, and shirting.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Their prestige suffers because it is conflated in the public’s mind with long lines at the DMV, fastidious building inspectors, parking tickets—the stuff of local functionaries.—
Franklin Foer,
The Atlantic,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Brooks sat for roughly 10 hours of interviews over five sessions — a demanding schedule for a 99-year-old subject, but one Apatow approached with care.—
Stephen Silver,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The incident, blown out of proportion in his opinion, was, on the contrary, an example of how demanding the crowd can be at Juventus.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pernickety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pernickety. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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