stickle

verb

stick·​le ˈsti-kəl 

stickled; stickling ˈsti-k(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to contend especially stubbornly and usually on insufficient grounds

2

: to feel scruples : scruple

Examples of stickle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The hits — by Warwick, Dusty Springfield, Gene Pitney, et al. — started to flow, and Bacharach became known as one of pop’s most stickling perfectionists. —Rob Hoerburger, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2023

Word History

Etymology

alteration of Middle English stightlen, frequentative of stighten to arrange, from Old English stihtan; akin to Old Norse stētta to found, support

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1