as in nice
informal + disapproving
having or showing the annoying attitude of people who care too much about dressing and behaving properly and who are easily upset by other people's behavior, language, etc.
She was too prissy to wear jeans. a prissy do-gooder
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Recent Examples of prissy
As Berenger’s prissy friend Gene, the character who transforms the most during the course of the play, Phillip Taratula changes in both body and soul.
—
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 18 Mar. 2026
Only on Industry can listening to one’s conscience come off as prissy and weak.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026
Despite its heavy premise, the movie also has absurdities, among them Conan O’Brien as a judgmental, prissy therapist.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 9 Dec. 2025
Albee's 1962 play won a Tony Award, and would have also won a Pulitzer Prize for drama, if the prissy trustees of Columbia University hadn't overruled the jury.
—Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2023
Some of that’s changing times, some of that is because a not-insignificant portion of W.A.S.P. fans are prissy suburbanites themselves.
—Andy O'Connor, SPIN, 13 Jan. 2023
McGregor speaks with a prissy American accent that in its own way is as expressive as Ray’s trumpet playing.
—Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Oct. 2022
The former embodies Professor Dovey, a prissy headmistress in Tweety Bird-yellow threads, who’s always going on about the rules, while Theron’s evil-minded Lady Lesso takes her fashion cues from Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 19 Oct. 2022
Sharon Sanders: — and perfume and being prissy (laughs).
—CBS News, 21 May 2022
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 18 Mar. 2026
Only on Industry can listening to one’s conscience come off as prissy and weak.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026
Despite its heavy premise, the movie also has absurdities, among them Conan O’Brien as a judgmental, prissy therapist.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 9 Dec. 2025
Albee's 1962 play won a Tony Award, and would have also won a Pulitzer Prize for drama, if the prissy trustees of Columbia University hadn't overruled the jury.
—Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2023
Some of that’s changing times, some of that is because a not-insignificant portion of W.A.S.P. fans are prissy suburbanites themselves.
—Andy O'Connor, SPIN, 13 Jan. 2023
McGregor speaks with a prissy American accent that in its own way is as expressive as Ray’s trumpet playing.
—Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Oct. 2022
The former embodies Professor Dovey, a prissy headmistress in Tweety Bird-yellow threads, who’s always going on about the rules, while Theron’s evil-minded Lady Lesso takes her fashion cues from Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 19 Oct. 2022
Sharon Sanders: — and perfume and being prissy (laughs).
—CBS News, 21 May 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prissy
Adjective
-
Of the 32 rooms, 12 are suites, and the remaining are superior double rooms, so all are a nice size.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 Mar. 2026
-
This one also had a nice fresh scent that wasn’t overpowering (which can sometimes happen when all your curl-routine products are fragrant).—
Catharine Malzahn,
Glamour,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Airlines are struggling to keep up with costs, and customers are becoming more demanding.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Exercise and demanding activities should be done in the early morning and evening.—
Dakota Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
While some experts insist that a good face cream can handily tend to the skin around the eyes, others argue that a cream specifically designed for the delicate area is worth the investment.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The lip exfoliators have delicate sugar crystals that gently scrub to reveal smooth, supple, flake-free lips.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The other agent graduated from the FBI Academy in 2018 and at the time of his firing was working on public corruption cases and had directly briefed Patel on a particular investigation.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Mar. 2026
-
In the restaurants, especially SoNoMa, there is particular focus on responsibly local and environmentally friendly sourcing, with the team gunning to start a comprehensive composting system.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
This is not the first time the United States has taken careful aim in Iran and shot its own feet.—
Nicholas D. Kristof,
Mercury News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Kang noted that Demon Hunters’ visual style was consciously shaped by her lifelong love of anime and manhwa — Korean comics and graphic novels — and executed with careful attention to Korean linguistic and cultural nuances, even though the film’s lingua franca is American English.—
Dan Bilefsky,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Watts was polished and prim, outfitted in a strapless drop-waist top, which draped artistically over her matching cigarette trousers.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Chief among them is the late and especially great Dame Maggie Smith, who gave one of her most powerful and enduring performances as the prim and wise Violet Crawley.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
For some people, like those with finicky internet or frequent power outages, initiating a long, slow download that runs in the background for hours or days isn't a viable option.—
Justin Pot,
PC Magazine,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Ranunculus Another gorgeous-yet-finicky flower is the ranunculus.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Having access to up-to-the-minute information and the ability to pivot plans rapidly has become a critical asset in ensuring seamless travel experiences.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The same long-term planning that diversified the economy — non-oil activities now account for more than 77% of GDP — also ensured that critical logistics, energy, and trade systems were built with strategic redundancy.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prissy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prissy. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
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