as in critic
a person given to harsh judgments and to finding faults
a tiresome nitpicker who seems to think that I can't do anything right
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Recent Examples of nitpicker
Alas, nitpickers can point to some moves in which Atlanta went backward.
—
John Hollinger, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Maybe that’s why, compared with some other kinds of nitpickers, pop critics can seem especially extraneous.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
John Hollinger, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Maybe that’s why, compared with some other kinds of nitpickers, pop critics can seem especially extraneous.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nitpicker
Noun
-
Trump has been actively endorsing challengers against Republican critics ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
-
But this week could bring what critics call the most brazen move yet.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 May 2026
Noun
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In turn, the criticizer is made out to be overreacting.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nitpicker.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nitpicker. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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