1
as in choosy
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of picky
Skiing is surprisingly picky about physics.
—
Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
But add some roasted chicken and top it with a creamy cheese sauce and the result is a rich and cozy casserole that even the pickiest child will happily eat.
—Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 11 Feb. 2026
On top of that headwind, shoppers are getting picky and more demanding of a seamless returns process.
—Peter Sadera, Sourcing Journal, 6 Feb. 2026
Eating Issues Being a picky eater is pretty common during early childhood.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for picky
Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
But add some roasted chicken and top it with a creamy cheese sauce and the result is a rich and cozy casserole that even the pickiest child will happily eat.
—Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 11 Feb. 2026
On top of that headwind, shoppers are getting picky and more demanding of a seamless returns process.
—Peter Sadera, Sourcing Journal, 6 Feb. 2026
Eating Issues Being a picky eater is pretty common during early childhood.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for picky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picky
Adjective
-
Be choosy about compost and soil amendments.—
Dr. Avishesh Neupane,
Hartford Courant,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Being choosy right now builds your overall financial freedom.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
In 2026, China’s luxury sector is more selective, rational, and emotionally discerning than ever.—
Yiling Pan,
Vogue,
17 Feb. 2026
-
In Spain, the film has won ICAA selective funding, with public broadcaster RTVE and paybox Movistar Plus+ attached.—
Emiliano De Pablos,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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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,
13 Feb. 2026
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However, the safety market has been finicky, with the value of the position declining in recent years.—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Stirring frequently, cook until garlic is a deep golden brown, being careful not to burn it, about 5 minutes.—
C.W. Cameron,
AJC.com,
21 Feb. 2026
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Once the heavy portion is removed, finish with a clean cut where the branch meets the trunk, being careful not to injure the branch collar.—
Rae Ford,
Martha Stewart,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Having a set time to do individual work has been nice.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
19 Feb. 2026
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While more attacking and midfield options are always nice, Orlando’s real problem lies in replacing key defenders who departed in the offseason.—
Kyle Foley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
John Lavelle exudes a perfumed whiff of modern camp in his portrayal of Orsini-Rosenberg, the fussy, backstabbing director of the Imperial Opera.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
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The setting is calm and elevated without being fussy.—
Katie Mathews,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This particular mission plans to put humans in orbit around the Moon.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Feb. 2026
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This formula, in particular, offers a liposomal delivery—a 125 mg phospholipid complex—to protect against degradation during digestion.—
Brianna Peters,
Vogue,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Picky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picky. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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