as in careful
hard to please
cats have a reputation for being finicky eaters
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Recent Examples of finicky
Fruit trees, in particular, can be quite finicky and difficult to manage.
—
Emily Hayes, Martha Stewart, 3 Mar. 2026
An end to an overblown row As finicky and technical as the topic of compression ratios may be to the casual F1 fan, the furore surrounding their policing in the last two months has been a perfect example of F1 politicking.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
Specifically, the Sweetwaters don’t have the same finicky snowpack and checkerboard of Designated Wilderness as the Sierra Nevada.
—Brent Rose, Outside, 28 Feb. 2026
Between stiff, too-tight pairs digging into my waist with every move and finicky zippers and buttons, finding a trusty pair of jeans can feel daunting.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for finicky
Emily Hayes, Martha Stewart, 3 Mar. 2026
An end to an overblown row As finicky and technical as the topic of compression ratios may be to the casual F1 fan, the furore surrounding their policing in the last two months has been a perfect example of F1 politicking.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
Specifically, the Sweetwaters don’t have the same finicky snowpack and checkerboard of Designated Wilderness as the Sierra Nevada.
—Brent Rose, Outside, 28 Feb. 2026
Between stiff, too-tight pairs digging into my waist with every move and finicky zippers and buttons, finding a trusty pair of jeans can feel daunting.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for finicky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finicky
Adjective
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Adjust a subscription or renegotiate a small fee, then record the change, because tracking progress reinforces confidence and protects your careful planning.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Of the 32 rooms, 12 are suites, and the remaining are superior double rooms, so all are a nice size.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 Mar. 2026
-
This one also had a nice fresh scent that wasn’t overpowering (which can sometimes happen when all your curl-routine products are fragrant).—
Catharine Malzahn,
Glamour,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In the United States, the actor played secondary roles, usually weary, nervy authority figures, such as the stern mentor (Good Will Hunting) and the persnickety scientist (Deep Blue Sea).—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Francesca’s pinnacle Once a Regency world has implied there’s mass print culture capable of speedy and pervasive distribution of colored images, something as persnickety as vocabulary is probably beside the point.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
If the labor market this year resembles last year’s, health care would again account for most of the job growth in the country and employers should start to get pickier.—
Conor Sen,
Twin Cities,
15 Mar. 2026
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If the labor market this year resembles last year’s, health care would again account for most of the job growth in the country and employers should start to get pickier.—
Conor Sen,
Boston Herald,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Sable has faced particular backlash over its efforts to restart a pipeline that ruptured in 2015, causing one of the biggest oil spills in state history.—
Clara Harter Los Angeles Times,
Arkansas Online,
15 Mar. 2026
-
This had caused great dismay for my grandparents—my grandfather in particular.—
Han Ong,
New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Arrangements don’t need to be fussy.—
James T. Farmer,
Southern Living,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Long car rides can make for fussy, restless kids.—
Dr. Katherine Williamson,
Boston Herald,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Prince and Princess of Wales are fastidious about dropping off and picking up their kids from school, even with their busy royal schedules and a nanny.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
12 Mar. 2026
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His wizardry was displayed Sunday in fastidious massaging of volumes, sonorities and interplays, always with an undercurrent of urgency.—
Scott Cantrell,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Airlines are struggling to keep up with costs, and customers are becoming more demanding.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
17 Mar. 2026
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Exercise and demanding activities should be done in the early morning and evening.—
Dakota Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Finicky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finicky. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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