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
-
Backfill with soil, being careful not to place the soil against the stem, as this can cause rot.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
6 June 2026
-
Every Jantzen suit is crafted for a variety of body types with careful attention to support, coverage and ease of movement.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 2026
Adjective
-
Scott finds one benefit to be the guarantee of a predictable schedule, as opposed to potentially finicky and expensive Ubers or other local transportation.—
Sophie Lindberg,
Kansas City Star,
9 June 2026
-
Unpredictable hours, loud noises, finicky clients, wrenches, needles.—
Jane Bua,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
Imagine creating a new standard of hypersensitive caution about attracting even the most persnickety media criticism, and then applying it for the first time to your son’s wedding.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
21 May 2026
-
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
-
In the Appalachian mountains, this form took particular root.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
-
Signing bonuses, in particular, are often prorated over multiple years for salary cap purposes, which is why the timing of a trade can matter.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Adjective
-
Children with the virus may be fussy and sleepy throughout the day, and cry without tears.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
Perhaps there's a fussy Phillies fan in footy pajamas who balks at the twice-daily ritual but might be more inclined to brush because Harper does it, as well.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
The company says the service offers speeds of 150Mbps, which doesn’t match full-fiber gigabit connections but is speedy enough for most usage (and perhaps to keep the pickiest lover on side).—
David Phelan,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
-
The rapper detailed everything from how all of his kids were blessed with his looks to how RZA is a picky eater and Riot has a sweet tooth.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
Some birds, most notably crows, like to give their food a good dunking before eating, so there’s a possibility worms in the birdbath were left by these fastidious birds.—
Joan Morris,
Mercury News,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Autonomy can absorb repetitive, lower-value, or cognitively demanding tasks so crews can focus on judgment, decision-making, and mission execution – the things humans still do best.—
Tim Burns,
Fortune,
9 June 2026
-
The fuchsia tone is, of course, the most attention-demanding, and black is always a safe bet—especially for more formal events.—
Alexandra Malmed,
InStyle,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pernickety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pernickety. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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