nitpick

verb

nit·​pick ˈnit-ˌpik 

nitpicked; nitpicking; nitpicks

intransitive verb

: to engage in nit-picking

transitive verb

: to criticize by nit-picking

… warns her lawyers not to nitpick on relatively simple matters.

—Deborah L. Jacobs

nitpick noun

nitpicker noun

nitpicky

ˈnit-ˌpi-kē 

adjective

Synonyms of nitpick

• complain
• quibble
• cavil
• fuss
• moan

Examples of nitpick in a Sentence

her husband nitpicks about everything: from how she puts the plates away to how she files the bills

Recent Examples on the Web

The key point here is to be fast, be clear and treat challenges as rare events for obvious misses, not some sort of default setting for nitpicking. —Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2026

That meant making some hard choices and nitpicking reasons for why one place shouldn't be included. —Will Richmond, The Providence Journal, 11 Apr. 2026

Its members, many still fatigued from the 2023 strike, don’t seem poised — at least for now — to nitpick their deal or criticize their union for not pushing hard enough. —Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 6 Apr. 2026

Notorious for nitpicking every small mistake after big victories, the Texas women’s head basketball coach was downright dismissive of any flaws in his team’s Sweet 16 win over Kentucky. —Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from nit-picking

First Known Use

1956, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

nitpick

verb

nit·​pick ˈnit-ˌpik 

: to criticize for tiny faults that are usually of little importance

nitpicker noun