1
as in finicky
hard to please
as she got older, she got more and more persnickety
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in challenging
requiring much time, effort, or careful attention
lacked the patience to deal with such persnickety tasks as hanging wallpaper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in aristocratic
being or characteristic of a person who has an offensive air of superiority and tends to ignore or disdain anyone regarded as inferior
his persnickety attitude lost him some friends when they found out what he really thinks of "their kind"
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of persnickety
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
What’s more, some species are so persnickety that even low-water activity media won’t do the trick consistently.
—Elizabeth Anne Brown, Scientific American, 20 Jan. 2026
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
And Bob's combative phone call with a persnickety resistance operator marks a comedic career highlight for both DiCaprio and Anderson.
5.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Dec. 2025
Maybe also add a little note telling them not to get too persnickety about insuring the blade is mirror-shiny all the time.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 16 Nov. 2025
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
Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2026
What’s more, some species are so persnickety that even low-water activity media won’t do the trick consistently.
—Elizabeth Anne Brown, Scientific American, 20 Jan. 2026
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
And Bob's combative phone call with a persnickety resistance operator marks a comedic career highlight for both DiCaprio and Anderson.
5.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Dec. 2025
Maybe also add a little note telling them not to get too persnickety about insuring the blade is mirror-shiny all the time.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 16 Nov. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persnickety
Adjective
-
Ranunculus Another gorgeous-yet-finicky flower is the ranunculus.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The stir-together crust takes mere minutes, and there’s no finicky custard to make.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The still-to-close merger, announced on social media Tuesday, will maintain separate brands while sharing brewing facilities and other resources, helping both companies navigate a challenging craft beer industry and explore new opportunities for growth.—
Robert Channick,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
-
This means 26 wines, which has proven a challenging but really fun experience.—
Laura Ness,
Mercury News,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Under the law, the remaining earls, viscounts and dukes who inherited their seats in the chamber along with their aristocratic titles will leave Parliament for good when the current session concludes this spring.—
Peter Weber,
TheWeek,
12 Mar. 2026
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On Tuesday night, members of the upper chamber dropped objections to legislation passed by the House of Commons ousting dozens of dukes, earls and viscounts who inherited seats in Parliament along with their aristocratic titles.—
Jill Lawless,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The best way to attain them during this conjunction of Venus and Saturn in your financial zone would be to set careful guardrails around your spending.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 2026
-
No amount of sweeping or careful stepping keeps it at bay; shoes quickly collect a film of dust or thick mud.—
Katie Strasberg Rousso,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Anyone who has seen the way the space works today can recognize that there are a lot of families who find this very, very difficult right now.—
Anna Moeslein,
Glamour,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Demonstrating that was difficult due to natural fluctuations in temperatures.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Planning for more than 11 contests out of Dobbins, something only produced twice over his first six NFL seasons, isn’t just arrogant.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Capitalize on the overwhelming support for legislative transparency and Spilka, Mariano and Attorney General Andea Campbell’s arrogant refusal to implement it.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
This weeknight chicken recipe will please picky eaters and seasoned cooks alike.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Cuyana’s System Zipper Tote is another favorite among picky InStyle shopping editors.—
Kyra Surgent,
InStyle,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Not all musicals will be as demanding as that.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
-
My offspring are way more demanding.—
Allison Tibaldi,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Persnickety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persnickety. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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