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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of picky
Many lepidoptera are picky eaters and will dine only on certain plants.
—
Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2025
Final Thoughts: Staging As A Market Strategy The Manhattan market is beginning to perk up after a few quiet years, but buyers are as picky as ever.
—John Walkup, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Gregory’s picky eating has been a long-running gag on the show, but when Erica bails on a hard-to-get reservation, Barbara encourages Gregory to fill in so Janine doesn’t have to cancel.
—Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 29 Jan. 2025
Van Pay and Baumert are picky about words.
—Jack Truesdale, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for picky
Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2025
Final Thoughts: Staging As A Market Strategy The Manhattan market is beginning to perk up after a few quiet years, but buyers are as picky as ever.
—John Walkup, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Gregory’s picky eating has been a long-running gag on the show, but when Erica bails on a hard-to-get reservation, Barbara encourages Gregory to fill in so Janine doesn’t have to cancel.
—Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 29 Jan. 2025
Van Pay and Baumert are picky about words.
—Jack Truesdale, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for picky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picky
Adjective
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The model mirrors what high-end admissions consultants offer for top-tier universities but applies it to one of the most selective industries in the world.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2025
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The most selective institutions sometimes take a more cautious approach to deferrals, particularly when managing precise class sizes or specialized programs.—
Dr. Aviva Legatt,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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
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And by that time in her career, Salonga could be choosy.—
Robert Ito,
New York Times,
16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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But the spring portal can also be particularly finicky.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2025
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Keep in mind: Shipping fresh flowers can be finicky, especially to hundreds of stores across the country.—
Andrea Beck,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Be careful not to let in too much moisture to avoid any mildew or mold developing on your mattress.—
Terry Baddoo,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
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And Martin says the uncertainty about insurance rates is yet another good reason to be careful on the road.—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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And the honeycomb design isn’t just nice on the eyes.—
Nicol Natale,
People.com,
22 Apr. 2025
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It’s made of a tarp-like material that feels pretty durable and the lid zippers, which is nice to contain smells.—
Sara Coughlin,
SELF,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Instead of all the pomp and circumstance, chef Mario Valles is now turning out a French-Mediterranean menu that’s elegant and luxurious (morels, foie gras) without being fussy.—
Ann Abel,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
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Eliana's current favorite read is Birds of New Zealand, but Rad said that her daughter is not fussy, exploring everything from poetry to novels.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Jonathan Pryce plays the persnickety headmaster who prefers to keep politics outside the school walls.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
12 Sep. 2024
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Kurkdjian’s policies as head of the department reflect both a persnickety attention to detail and an obsession with creative autonomy.—
Rachel Syme,
The New Yorker,
16 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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In his reply to Gordon-Levitt, Shatner also explained why that particular date was chosen in the first place.—
David Oliver,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
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In fact, the past few years have seen a particular rise in the drag king scene on the island.—
James Factora,
Them.,
22 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Picky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picky. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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