persnickety

adjective

pər-ˈsni-kə-tē How to pronounce persnickety (audio)
Definition of persnicketynext
1
as in finicky
hard to please as she got older, she got more and more persnickety

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in challenging
requiring much time, effort, or careful attention lacked the patience to deal with such persnickety tasks as hanging wallpaper

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in aristocratic
being or characteristic of a person who has an offensive air of superiority and tends to ignore or disdain anyone regarded as inferior his persnickety attitude lost him some friends when they found out what he really thinks of "their kind"

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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 persnickety The champion’s mindset—persnickety, hyper-critical, focused—is back. — Frederick Dreier, Outside, 23 Dec. 2025 Because of that pressurization level, passengers will experience less stress on their bodies and get more oxygen while onboard, which can help to reduce that persnickety jet lag. — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 9 Dec. 2025 Meanwhile, a persnickety bank investigator, played by Tilda Swinton in a frizzle of red hair and clompy shoes, approaches Doyle with a serious charge. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 29 Oct. 2025 The holdup has come from some persnickety deal points, like carving out international streaming rights and reaching consensus on the tech advancements Apple plans to use for its productions. — Alex Harrington, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for persnickety
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persnickety
  1. finicky
  2. challenging
  3. aristocratic
  4. careful
  5. difficult
  6. arrogant
  7. picky
  8. demanding
Adjective
  • The most finicky part of the setup was actually inserting the battery for the igniter.
    — Noah Kaufman, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The oversized trench coat maintains its spot in the fall capsule wardrobe, while a few more unexpected silhouettes, like the elevated track jacket, offer both protection and elegance in the notoriously finicky weather to come.
    — Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of finicky
Adjective
  • As Hispanic Heritage Month continues, one musician at Philadelphia's Curtis Institute of Music is challenging expectations about classical music and the harp.
    — Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Naomi Ackie, who plays the scientist charged with Hagen’s experimental procedure, praised how her co-star shouldered what was a very challenging role.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of challenging
Adjective
  • Kumari plays Sahibjaan, born in a graveyard to a courtesan who was spurned by her husband’s aristocratic family.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The new European aristocratic romance, which has its world premiere at international TV conference Mipcom tonight, ditches the fairy tale for a more realistic take on an ordinary girl who finds her prince.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of aristocratic
Adjective
  • Full-scale, 10-foot Hulk standins helped actors and camera crews judge his dimensions on set, and even his pants required careful attention.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Turning a field into a recognizable maze requires specialized planning and careful execution.
    — Alexa Liacko, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of careful
Adjective
  • The problem, Snegovaya said, is that achieving military autonomy for Europe and Ukraine is extremely difficult in the short term, and Europe has been slow to develop the necessary capabilities.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Past changes have pushed the glacier into a retreat that may be difficult to reverse, while new modeling suggests scientists may have underestimated how warm seawater reaches beneath it.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • Wright was known to be arrogant, and his self-importance is on full display here.
    — Wendy S. Walters, Architectural Digest, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Georg, an unemployed auto mechanic, comes across as an arrogant jock.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of arrogant
Adjective
  • The limited prep area has forced me to be incredibly picky about which tools and appliances to display and which to relegate to cabinets.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 16 Oct. 2026
  • In today’s uneven market, dealers and advisers are being especially picky about which fairs to attend.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of picky
Adjective
  • The companies position shorter charging stops as a way to support longer operating windows and more demanding task sequences.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • But these are just basic text prompts and mildly demanding tasks.
    — Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of demanding

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persnicketiness
persnickety
person
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Cite this Entry

“Persnickety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persnickety. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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