as in careful
hard to please
an Oxford don who's definitely a pernickety old chap
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Recent Examples of pernickety
Perhaps this pernickety attention to detail is just the next logical step after years of falsification?
—
Raven Smith, Vogue, 9 Dec. 2020
Raven Smith, Vogue, 9 Dec. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pernickety
Adjective
-
Watch out for slippery roads: Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
7 June 2025
-
Be careful to avoid spraying plants with oils during hot, sunny weather.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
6 June 2025
Adjective
-
The result is a five-star fun palace oozing maximalist glee that doesn’t skimp on finicky details.—
Mark Ellwood,
Robb Report,
13 June 2025
-
Hydrangeas can be a bit finicky and may take a few weeks to months to settle in.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
31 May 2025
Adjective
-
But Wilson is in his comfort zone as ever with Anderson, playing Francis’s persnickety dedication to the trip’s itinerary with his typical generosity.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
12 June 2025
-
What would the notoriously persnickety Corbitt say about those bold additions?—
Libby Monteith Minor,
Southern Living,
17 May 2025
Adjective
-
One of its biggest beefs in recent years has been over U.S. moves to limit the access of Chinese companies to technology, and in particular to equipment and processes needed to produce the most advanced semiconductors.—
Ken Moritsugu,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
-
But for some reason this particular patch of dead air didn’t leave enough time to let everyone back to their seats before Lin-Manuel Miranda and company took the stage.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
9 June 2025
Adjective
-
Their elevated, but not fussy take on Southern food is truly exceptional.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
14 June 2025
-
The compressive fabric and neckline work together to enhance smaller busts, while the stretchy material allows for all-day wear without feeling fussy or poking at the skin.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
6 June 2025
Adjective
-
Pets can be pretty picky, especially with their food and water.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
5 June 2025
-
There is no such thing as a perfect candidate, so don’t be so darn picky.—
Michelle Jefferson,
Baltimore Sun,
4 June 2025
Adjective
-
Advertisement Advertisement Anderson has been accused of many things: putting style before substance, being too sardonic as to lack emotionality, leaning too hard into nostalgia, becoming too fastidious for his own good.—
Shannon Carlin,
Time,
30 May 2025
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In the past several weeks, President Donald Trump, who has never been fastidious about separating public and private business, has been involved in a remarkable number of potential conflicts of interest.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
All have long-standing reputations and a superb stock that will meet the requirements of the most demanding connoisseur.—
Felipe Schrieberg,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
-
That becomes especially useful when dealing with fluctuating frame rates on more demanding games.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
11 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pernickety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pernickety. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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