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

Relevance

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 In today’s uneven market, dealers and advisers are being especially picky about which fairs to attend. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 7 Oct. 2026 The bears, which are normally solitary creatures, can be picky when choosing mates, and females are only in heat for one to three days each year. — Eduardo Cuevas, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026 Vionic Kimmie Court Sneakers This Vionic Galia sneaker is so good that my picky 60-year-old mom and I are both running to checkout. — Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 7 Sep. 2026 Some producers will get much more picky about that and spend a lot of time aligning the playing to the grid. — Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for picky

Recent Examples of Synonyms for picky

Adjective

Further down the ratings ladder, investors are getting choosier and demanding higher yields to take on the risk of lending to companies in the AI sector.

— Ellen DiMauro, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Lawrence’s casting is a coup – for any studio, really – as the actress is known for being quite choosy.

— Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of choosy

Adjective

The team applies selective processing to recover neodymium and iron, allowing the metals to be obtained in pure salt forms.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
The new club will forgo the famously selective door policy associated with Studio 54, with Schrager hoping its atmosphere will attract a like-minded crowd.

— Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of selective

Adjective

However, the large touchpad was too often a little finicky about what constituted a right- or left-click.

— Marshall Honorof, PC Magazine, 7 Nov. 2026
That run ends up lasting just one session thanks to a finicky clutch slave cylinder, which belched its fluid out on-track and left Joey unable to shift.

— Byron Hurd, The Drive, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of finicky

Adjective

This may reduce duplication, although temporary processing, logging, vendors and model-provider retention policies still need careful review.

— Steve Dawson, Forbes.com, 12 Nov. 2026
That flexibility could benefit experiments and sensitive equipment requiring careful handling after landing.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of careful

Adjective

Faulkner gave the gig his best shot, producing some twelve hundred pages and entertaining fussy notes from French consultants.

— Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 12 Nov. 2026
Chunky glitter like Lemonhead LA Spacejam or Unicorn Snot Macro Glitter can also have the same gem-like effect without the fussy gluing and oh-so-precise placement.

— Loren Savini, Allure, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of fussy

Adjective

What to do nearby Upon arrival, one of the very helpful receptionists will mark up a map with nearby sites, beaches, and restaurants worth visiting in the area and explain the best way to walk or bike there—a nice personal touch.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026
This puts a nice button on Gabe preferring to get Star Baker over a handshake.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of nice

Adjective

The team then turned to an open-source model developed in China, which was less persnickety.

— Stephen Witt, New Yorker, 30 July 2026
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

Definition of persnickety

Adjective

Each Aman brings a particular individuality, yet the continuous thread between each is this aptitude for creating a space where guests can fully succumb to relaxation.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Nov. 2026
Into this eclectic circle comes Leland, an Alabama man who wears his particular brand of Christianity on his sleeve and has endured more than his fair share of tragedy.

— Matthew J. Palm, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Nov. 2026

Definition of particular

Browse Nearby Words

pickups

picky

picnic

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Picky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picky. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of picky

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

impertinent

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes