as in careful
hard to please
an Oxford don who's definitely a pernickety old chap
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples 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 pernickety
Perhaps this pernickety attention to detail is just the next logical step after years of falsification?
—
Raven Smith, Vogue, 9 Dec. 2020
Raven Smith, Vogue, 9 Dec. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pernickety
Adjective
-
Bass has employed a more careful and conciliatory tone.—
Julia Wick,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Jan. 2025
-
Leopold cautioned immigrants of any religious, national or ethnic background to be careful traveling.—
Pioneer Press,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Some houseplants are finicky about humidity, but African violets are usually content with standard household humidity levels.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Jan. 2025
-
On the downside, motion duck decoys are expensive and some of them are finicky in field conditions.—
Alex Robinson,
Outdoor Life,
19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Jonathan Pryce plays the persnickety headmaster who prefers to keep politics outside the school walls.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
12 Sep. 2024
-
Kurkdjian’s policies as head of the department reflect both a persnickety attention to detail and an obsession with creative autonomy.—
Rachel Syme,
The New Yorker,
16 Sep. 2024
Adjective
-
Latino children with asthma seemed to suffer the worst; among that particular population, there was a 95% increase in attacks and flare-ups.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Jan. 2025
-
The use of racial slurs and trash talking, in particular, is becoming increasingly widespread and being normalized on such platforms.—
Mia Taylor,
Parents,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
But the fussy, restrictive stuff that takes a lot to figure out how to wear is just not happening.—
Mark Holgate,
Vogue,
18 Dec. 2024
-
Compared with the fussy mechanics, the electronics were a breeze to construct.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
2 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Having a family of nine means sometimes preparing meals in large quantities is necessary, and being a picky eater isn’t really an option.—
Katie Mannion,
People.com,
12 Jan. 2025
-
African violets aren’t that picky about temperature, but they should be sheltered from drafty windows, air conditioning units, and heaters.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
In the days leading up to voting, Taiwan was bombarded by cyberattacks — even the normally fastidious Chinese military hackers seemed to be working in shifts, Chiueh noted.—
Joshua Keating,
Vox,
16 Dec. 2024
-
So, too, is their insistence on not just fastidious work in the vineyard and impeccable efforts in the winery, but also on their willingness—indeed, their passion—to allow every vintage to fully express itself.—
Brian Freedman,
Forbes,
16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Today’s shoppers are more demanding, more savvy and more cost-conscious than ever before.—
Gary Drenik,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
-
Friends and sources told PEOPLE at the time that although Silva was excited for Costner’s Hollywood ascendance, their relationship became more difficult due to his increasingly demanding schedule.—
Brendan Le,
People.com,
18 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near pernickety
Cite this Entry
“Pernickety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pernickety. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share