1
as in choosey
hard to please
a picky cat who would only eat one particular kind of food, and only if it was served in his special dish
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in selective
tending to select carefully
she's picky, but she always finds the best quality in fresh meat and fish
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of picky
Get the kids involved in creating their snacks, use familiar foods for picky eaters, or make up a game like tic-tac-toe with crackers and cheese.
—
Christina Montoya Fiedler, Parents, 4 Aug. 2025
There will be no fights from the picky eaters at your table when Doritos Chicken Casserole is for dinner.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 3 Aug. 2025
My daughter is very picky, and no job seems to be good enough for her.
—Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 18 July 2025
Justin’s Almond Butter My youngest niece, a picky eater, has found her match with these nut butter pouches.
—Ronny Maye, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for picky
Christina Montoya Fiedler, Parents, 4 Aug. 2025
There will be no fights from the picky eaters at your table when Doritos Chicken Casserole is for dinner.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 3 Aug. 2025
My daughter is very picky, and no job seems to be good enough for her.
—Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 18 July 2025
Justin’s Almond Butter My youngest niece, a picky eater, has found her match with these nut butter pouches.
—Ronny Maye, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for picky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picky
Adjective
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The list identified highly selective universities that employers say are on par, if not better, than the eight Ivy League colleges.—
Kamaron McNair,
CNBC,
23 Aug. 2025
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To put that in perspective: an 18 is below the national average ACT score of 19 — and far below what selective universities such as the University of Illinois expect, where most freshmen scored between 30 and 34.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Known for being among the choosiest of the choosy buildings and the longtime home of Henry Kissinger, whose sprawling duplex, full of green upholstery and black candles — very Sister Parish — has yet to come on the market since his death.—
Kim Velsey,
Curbed,
13 Aug. 2025
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While tariffs may lead to consumers being more choosy, Link said the overall macroeconomic picture still looks positive, bolstered by lower interest rates, a steady job market and strong consumer savings.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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But the bag setup was too finicky, which ultimately bumped it from the top spot.—
Wilder Davies,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
22 July 2025
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The Evans farm shares all the same problems with traditional farms: finicky weather, labor shortages, rising costs, expensive supplies.—
Kylie Williams,
Miami Herald,
29 June 2025
Adjective
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Navigating this revolution responsibly requires careful policy, support for adaptation and a focus on using technology to benefit people.—
Vaibhav Dani,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
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The simplest activities now require careful advance planning.—
Barbara Bry,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Both Trejo and Crowley rode in the 2025 Centennial Tucson Rodeo, a nice mirroring of the agency’s own 100-year history.—
Suzanne Wright,
USA Today,
21 Aug. 2025
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The extra dose of corn flour brought a nice sweetness, and the new recipe stuck.—
Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The wine flows freely, the staff are warm without being fussy and the whole place feels built for lingering.—
Chelsea Frank,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 2025
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Not to be fussy about it, but the Presidential Fitness Test, which Donald Trump plans to reinstate in schools, could use some shaping up of its own.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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But Wilson is in his comfort zone as ever with Anderson, playing Francis’s persnickety dedication to the trip’s itinerary with his typical generosity.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
12 June 2025
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What would the notoriously persnickety Corbitt say about those bold additions?—
Libby Monteith Minor,
Southern Living,
17 May 2025
Adjective
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Smart jewelry, in particular, has often prioritized surface-level features—mirroring phones, flashing lights—without addressing what relationships actually need: space to feel, respond, and grow.—
Sixteen Ramos,
USA Today,
21 Aug. 2025
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The Padres could use some more oomph from Fernando Tatis Jr., in particular.—
Eno Sarris,
New York Times,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Picky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picky. Accessed 1 Sep. 2025.
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