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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of prissy
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
It’s a corny, sporty early-’90s rom-com about a hockey bruiser and a prissy figure skater who team up against the odds to compete in Olympic pairs skating.
—Vulture, 7 Feb. 2022
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
After her father’s death, Delilah Green grew up in the company of her frosty stepmother, Isabel, and prissy stepsister, Astrid—so as soon as high school was over, Delilah left town and never looked back.
—Keely Weiss, Harper's BAZAAR, 25 Feb. 2022
Bows may seem prissy, but there's actually surprisingly versatile.
—Bella Cacciatore, Glamour, 9 Dec. 2021
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
It’s a corny, sporty early-’90s rom-com about a hockey bruiser and a prissy figure skater who team up against the odds to compete in Olympic pairs skating.
—Vulture, 7 Feb. 2022
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
After her father’s death, Delilah Green grew up in the company of her frosty stepmother, Isabel, and prissy stepsister, Astrid—so as soon as high school was over, Delilah left town and never looked back.
—Keely Weiss, Harper's BAZAAR, 25 Feb. 2022
Bows may seem prissy, but there's actually surprisingly versatile.
—Bella Cacciatore, Glamour, 9 Dec. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prissy
Adjective
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However, despite slipping on the grass, Spaun was able to hit a nice approach shot to give himself a good look at a birdie from 20-plus feet out.—
Scott Thompson,
Fox News,
17 Mar. 2025
-
Provide Mentorship Giving back can be a nice way to make a meaningful contribution to others in your organization.—
Joseph Liu,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
By reducing latency and enabling real-time decision-making, these systems ensure that city services remain nimble under the most demanding conditions.—
Cathy Hackl,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
-
Everest's unpredictable weather and difficult breathing conditions make this one of the most physically and mentally demanding climbs in the world.—
Samantha Stutsman,
People.com,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
This is a lovely Champagne with appealing aromas of pear, passion fruit and a delicate hint of yeast.—
Tom Hyland,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
-
The scripts of the new series are laugh-out-loud funny, managing a delicate balance of raucous, lewd and sweet humor.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA TODAY,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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As the band’s newest single begins to slide, a classic that helped launch the musicians to stardom is a huge hit once more, and the group flexes its selling power in particular on one ranking.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
-
If not in a particular country, then certainly there's a legat that has responsibility for that particular country, for instance Turks and Caicos.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
Fox News,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
These concerns underscore the need for careful consideration of privacy rights when deploying such technology.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
15 Mar. 2025
-
Why America's business leaders engage in delicate diplomacy Corporate America's careful rhetoric — even as many big companies brace for the impact of the market volatility and the tariffs — illustrates the delicate diplomacy that business leaders are trying to engage in.—
Maria Aspan,
NPR,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Their outfits speak to the juxtaposition of prim and proper styling alongside deconstructed looks on the pavement outside of presentations.—
Robyn Mowatt,
Essence,
25 Feb. 2025
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There were enveloping officer’s overcoats, high-gloss leather jackets, prim gowns affixed with fur accents and stark black suits.—
Jacob Gallagher,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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But our biggest gripe with the classic Cuisinart design is how finicky these elements can be.—
Wilder Davies,
Bon Appétit,
21 Mar. 2025
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Rapley also claims that children who are baby-led, rather than spoon-fed, become less finicky eaters.—
Olga Khazan,
The Atlantic,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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For leaders this serves as a critical warning: the relentless pursuit of productivity without regard for the multifaceted nature of human identity can lead to a workforce that is disengaged, unfulfilled and ultimately less innovative.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
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Their disruption of this critical shipping route — which raises fuel, freight, and insurance costs, contributing to global inflation — adds to the urgency for U.S. action.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
20 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prissy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prissy. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
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