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
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This is not the first time the United States has taken careful aim in Iran and shot its own feet.—
Nicholas D. Kristof,
Mercury News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Kang noted that Demon Hunters’ visual style was consciously shaped by her lifelong love of anime and manhwa — Korean comics and graphic novels — and executed with careful attention to Korean linguistic and cultural nuances, even though the film’s lingua franca is American English.—
Dan Bilefsky,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
For some people, like those with finicky internet or frequent power outages, initiating a long, slow download that runs in the background for hours or days isn't a viable option.—
Justin Pot,
PC Magazine,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Ranunculus Another gorgeous-yet-finicky flower is the ranunculus.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In the United States, the actor played secondary roles, usually weary, nervy authority figures, such as the stern mentor (Good Will Hunting) and the persnickety scientist (Deep Blue Sea).—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
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Francesca’s pinnacle Once a Regency world has implied there’s mass print culture capable of speedy and pervasive distribution of colored images, something as persnickety as vocabulary is probably beside the point.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The other agent graduated from the FBI Academy in 2018 and at the time of his firing was working on public corruption cases and had directly briefed Patel on a particular investigation.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Mar. 2026
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In the restaurants, especially SoNoMa, there is particular focus on responsibly local and environmentally friendly sourcing, with the team gunning to start a comprehensive composting system.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Arrangements don’t need to be fussy.—
James T. Farmer,
Southern Living,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Long car rides can make for fussy, restless kids.—
Dr. Katherine Williamson,
Boston Herald,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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If the labor market this year resembles last year’s, health care would again account for most of the job growth in the country and employers should start to get pickier.—
Conor Sen,
Twin Cities,
15 Mar. 2026
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If the labor market this year resembles last year’s, health care would again account for most of the job growth in the country and employers should start to get pickier.—
Conor Sen,
Boston Herald,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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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
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His wizardry was displayed Sunday in fastidious massaging of volumes, sonorities and interplays, always with an undercurrent of urgency.—
Scott Cantrell,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Airlines are struggling to keep up with costs, and customers are becoming more demanding.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
17 Mar. 2026
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Exercise and demanding activities should be done in the early morning and evening.—
Dakota Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pernickety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pernickety. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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