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.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Step by careful step, Holbrook climbed, holding out bologna and cheese until two pairs of cautious eyes peeked back.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Wispy ’90s bangs are notoriously finicky—they’re so lightweight that the slightest brush against your forehead can leave them greasy and flat.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Orchids might seem like finicky houseplants, but with the proper care, that grocery store stunner can bloom for years and years.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, a persnickety bank investigator, played by Tilda Swinton in a frizzle of red hair and clompy shoes, approaches Doyle with a serious charge.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The holdup has come from some persnickety deal points, like carving out international streaming rights and reaching consensus on the tech advancements Apple plans to use for its productions.—
Alex Harrington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The streaming market is slowing but still growing, with particular attention on Asia, Africa, and South America.—
Billboard Japan,
Billboard,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Sandor was a voracious reader who regularly went to the theater and the movies (Montgomery Clift was a particular favorite), and that inspired her to create stories and fantasy worlds.—
Mike Barnes,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
For the least fussy dessert, go for a stovetop crisp.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
31 Oct. 2025
-
With fantastic views of the Bay of Lagos and a luxurious architectural setting, Al Sud serves a locavore tasting menu that’s delicate but not fussy, with fish and seafood from Sagres plus meat and produce from nearby farms.—
Chadner Navarro,
Vogue,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
These easy lasagna recipes make for great dinners that even the pickiest eaters will love.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Total Wine & More’s 2025 advent calendar of wine features varietals from all over the world that are sure to please even the pickiest oenophile.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Obviously, fastidious double-entry bookkeeping reduces the margin for error, even in complicated accounts, but more than that, once accounts become commonplace, ordinary people begin to think of the world in terms of accounts.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
5 Nov. 2025
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But that was hardly the end of our fastidious, crime-solving genius.—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Being the greatest gymnast is a demanding job, requiring a level of physical, mental, and emotional commitment most people couldn’t handle.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Polartec® Power Shield™ Pro—Protection, Evolved Engineered for the world’s most demanding mountain athletes, Polartec® Power Shield™ Pro represents the pinnacle of shell technology, blurring the lines between hard and soft shells.—
SJ Studio,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pernickety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pernickety. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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