How to Use finicky in a Sentence

finicky

adjective
  • My teacher is finicky about grammar.
  • Picky eaters may also be finicky about their treats and snacks.
    — Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 23 Oct. 2022
  • Avoid finicky recipes that need to be prepared one at a time.
    — Audrey Bruno, SELF, 16 Nov. 2018
  • The cheap ones tend to be more finicky and break down more often.
    — Charlotte Hu, Popular Science, 27 Nov. 2025
  • Even for chefs, cooking salmon can be finicky to get just right.
    — Maggie Hennessy, Bon Appétit, 6 Dec. 2023
  • Even when the motor is in place, though, the clock is finicky.
    — Mike Damiano, BostonGlobe.com, 15 June 2023
  • There are so many flavors there will be at least one for even the most finicky.
    — Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 3 June 2023
  • Turn the head of your finicky feline with a yummy, healthy treat.
    — Christina Vercelletto, CNN Underscored, 4 Dec. 2019
  • But loading them with coffee is finicky.
    — Noah Kaufman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Mar. 2026
  • One thing to note, the zippers can become finicky and stick at times.
    — Michelle Rostamian, Peoplemag, 27 Sep. 2023
  • But calf injuries are finicky, as anyone who has had one will tell you.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 11 June 2019
  • Comets are finicky, and predicting how bright this one will get is tricky.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 5 Jan. 2024
  • Hydrangeas can be a bit finicky and may take a few weeks to months to settle in.
    — Lauren David, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Hydrangeas can be a bit finicky and may take a few weeks to months to settle in.
    — Lauren David, Southern Living, 31 May 2025
  • There’s too much little finicky detail.
    — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Dealing with hot sugar is a little too finicky for me.
    — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 12 Dec. 2025
  • Pastry cream is a bit more finicky and doesn’t respond well to freezing.
    — Claire Perez, sun-sentinel.com, 11 Oct. 2019
  • Peonies just so happen to be pretty finicky plants.
    — Tessa Cooper, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2026
  • No fiddling with finicky pastry crusts when this dump cake is on the lineup.
    — Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 15 Nov. 2025
  • The best part is that it can all be done with the click of a button—no finicky dials or levers.
    — Jenna Clark, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Sep. 2023
  • For a long time, Bluetooth keyboards were too finicky to be worth the cost.
    — Popular Mechanics Editors, Popular Mechanics, 14 May 2018
  • Not wishing to be finicky, but doesn’t this still imply that a crash occurs?
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes, 25 June 2021
  • The walls and ceilings could be full of toxins, and ancient wiring can be finicky.
    — Chris Moody, Washington Post, 22 Aug. 2023
  • The sound quality wasn't great, and the controls were finicky.
    — Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 7 Oct. 2018
  • While the controls can be finicky, the overall package is just such a steal at this price.
    — Shubham Yewale, PCMAG, 28 Feb. 2025
  • And if your child is adamantly finicky, realize that lunch isn’t the venue to press it.
    — Kara Baskin, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Aug. 2019
  • Some wireless pads are finicky, with the phone needing to be in a perfect spot to catch a charge.
    — Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025
  • Wet food can sometimes be used as a way to encourage finicky dogs to eat or just to spoil your pooch.
    — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 14 May 2026
  • Does Allred have the ability to coax finicky voters to the polls?
    — Gromer Jeffers Jr., Dallas News, 5 May 2023
  • The device works best on your forehead and cheeks, and is a little more finicky around your nose and eyes.
    — Jenna Rosenstein, Harper's BAZAAR, 6 Oct. 2020

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'finicky.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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