1
as in choosy
hard to please
a picky cat who would only eat one particular kind of food, and only if it was served in his special dish
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in selective
tending to select carefully
she's picky, but she always finds the best quality in fresh meat and fish
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of picky
Mauritius looks like paradise to many—and its government can afford to be picky about the people who want to make the island their home.
—
Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Most general manager candidates cannot afford to be picky, especially those on the older end of the spectrum who have been passed up for previous jobs.
—Alec Lewis, New York Times, 6 May 2026
Because of her flat feet, my mom is picky about ballet flats—but the supportive straps on this pair caught her attention immediately.
—Paris Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 5 May 2026
Take time to cover trash cans and clean up food waste—since pigeons are less picky eaters and will dumpster dive if allowed.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for picky
Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Most general manager candidates cannot afford to be picky, especially those on the older end of the spectrum who have been passed up for previous jobs.
—Alec Lewis, New York Times, 6 May 2026
Because of her flat feet, my mom is picky about ballet flats—but the supportive straps on this pair caught her attention immediately.
—Paris Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 5 May 2026
Take time to cover trash cans and clean up food waste—since pigeons are less picky eaters and will dumpster dive if allowed.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for picky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picky
Adjective
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The unique flavors are enough to impress even the choosiest casserole connoisseur.—
Emma Ashe,
Southern Living,
15 May 2026
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The increase in costs is yet to hit bookings, but passengers are being choosier about destinations.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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While policies vary by subject and institution, hundreds of colleges, including some of the most selective in the country, award academic credit for high AP exam scores.—
Christopher Rim,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
Baking soda weed killer is a non-selective herbicide.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
17 May 2026
Adjective
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Given the finicky nature of oblique injuries, Betts isn’t expected to play every day through at least his first week back.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
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Ahead, discover brightening formulas that slot easily into your routine, especially if your skin is reactive, dry, or just a little finicky.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
9 May 2026
Adjective
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The tunnel was built after careful planning and executed with tremendous effort.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
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Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
16 May 2026
Adjective
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The comfortable seating area in the living room includes couches and armchairs set in front of the TV and fireplace for relaxing after a day on the slopes, and a dining table provides a nice spot to relax and eat.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
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Sullivan made a nice play on the ball and then twisted out of a tackle and ran 15 yards to the goal line.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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Be aware that long-blooming fuchsia can be quite fussy, preferring cooler temperatures, partial shade, and consistently moist soil.—
Gemma Johnstone,
The Spruce,
14 May 2026
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Lots of fussy bow-tie types yammering about Renoir.—
Peter Bogdanovich,
IndieWire,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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Now better training methods and new technology—in particular, camera and radar networks that can precisely measure a ball’s movement and create three-dimensional models of a pitcher’s mechanics—have helped pitchers learn to throw harder and harder.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
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That particular section, which sets new standards around warehouse operations and gives employees more information about company quotas and biometric surveillance, has drawn pushback from CBIA.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
Adjective
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Picky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picky. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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