as in complained
to make often peevish criticisms or objections about matters that are minor, unimportant, or irrelevant
her husband nitpicks about everything: from how she puts the plates away to how she files the bills
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example 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 nitpicked
Pride & Prejudice was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $120 million worldwide, though some nitpicked at the film for not being entirely accurate to Jane Austen’s original book.
—
Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025
Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nitpicked
Verb
-
Staff have complained that the current audio system periodically malfunctions during public comment or while City Council members are speaking from the dais.—
Hannah Elsmore,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 May 2026
-
The issue of high ticket costs and resale scalping has been a topic of discussion among state and federal leaders for years, after the matter was thrust into the zeitgeist when fans complained about ticket sales for Taylor Swift's Eras concert tour.—
Noe Padilla,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
The crime went unsolved for many years, prompting Mason to start making this movie in the early 2000s, and the immediate conclusion to jump to is that the LAPD maybe wasn’t too fussed about it.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Dunst doesn’t get fussed about that sort of thing.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
27 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The story that’s being quibbled about concerns a teen suicide.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
21 Apr. 2026
-
During a debate Tuesday, some lawmakers quibbled over whether the bill would infringe on the free market.—
Angela Palermo,
Idaho Statesman,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Coach Arne Slot moaned about VAR but his problems lie much closer to home.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
-
Critics moaned when the CFP committee picked the Hurricanes over Notre Dame as the last Power 4 entry into the playoffs.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Other candidates have criticized her and expressed their support for LGBTQ+ students — Rendon perhaps most pointedly.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 May 2026
-
Owens, who has frequently criticized Hunter Biden and his family over his business dealings, drug addiction, and the controversy surrounding his laptop, previewed a wide-ranging discussion touching on addiction, politics, faith, and Washington’s political culture.—
Adisa Hargett-Robinson,
The Washington Examiner,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Senior executives carped about Chapek to Disney board members.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nitpicked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nitpicked. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
