PICKY Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

picky

adjective

ˈpi-kē

Definition of picky

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

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of picky Rosewood is notoriously picky about locations, and its first debut winter resort is a testament to that. — Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 19 June 2026 Flatheads often scavenge and aren’t picky about their food. — Keith Sutton, Outdoor Life, 18 June 2026 Sometimes the fans can be picky. — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 17 June 2026 The moment came after the brothers shared past podcast clips, including an exchange from a May episode, when Travis discussed being a picky eater. — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for picky

Recent Examples of Synonyms for picky

Adjective

Being choosy about that content is key.

— Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
The unique flavors are enough to impress even the choosiest casserole connoisseur.

— Emma Ashe, Southern Living, 15 May 2026

Definition of choosy

Adjective

The results arrive at a time when the broader auction market has shown signs of growing more selective.

— Daniel Cassady for ARTnews, Robb Report, 8 July 2026
The decision to change diet or move to a new habitat, simply because of an impulse to explore options, can alter the selective pressures a population experiences and thus its evolutionary trajectory.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 8 July 2026

Definition of selective

Adjective

Why simplicity is the whole game Right now, except for a few robot makers who are already scaling like Agibot and Unitree, humanoid robots are expensive, hand-built, and finicky.

— John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
The idea of apps like Partiful are to eliminate the need for finicky email threads and groupchats with a bunch of unknown numbers by instead putting all the info – guest list, event details and photos – in one place.

— Rachel Hale, USA Today, 29 June 2026

Definition of finicky

Adjective

When an accident brings the enigmatic Gaia into their lives, unexpected desires begin to take shape, unsettling the careful balance that has long defined their relationship.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 9 July 2026
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.

— CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026

Definition of careful

Adjective

There’s a difference between a need-to-have and a nice-to-have, though, and both Murgio and Erman Ozguven agree there are good reasons to evacuate further than just a few miles inland.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026
On nice days, customers can sit on the rooftop among the outdoor sculpture garden and their meals will be brought to their table.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 July 2026

Definition of nice

Adjective

Under Walsh’s witty direction, all four deliver pitch-perfect comedic performances in this frothy farce, which is full of mistaken identities, exaggerated infatuations and fussy social norms.

— Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026
For fussy kids, freeze fruit juice or smoothies into ice pops.

— Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026

Definition of fussy

Adjective

The Supreme Court’s rulings have landed with particular force in South Florida, which is home to the largest share of Venezuelan immigrants in the country.

— Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
And Ormund Hightower appears to be very capable at this particular game, which should come as no surprise given Otto was his uncle and the Hightowers are wildly rich and powerful.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026

Definition of particular

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

Definition of persnickety

Browse Nearby Words

pickups

picky

picnic

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“Picky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picky. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of picky

adjective

Example Sentences

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