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
-
Detecting such tiny numbers of atoms takes time, and the setup requires careful calibration and advanced equipment.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Aside from a finicky toilet, the capsule appeared to perform well during the nearly 10-day voyage, according to NASA.—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Hydrangeas can be a bit finicky and may take a few weeks to months to settle in.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
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
Adjective
-
If the particular coat isn’t available anymore, consider a gift card.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
This particular instance, however, departs from cliché in important ways.—
Susan Tallman,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The production is a revival of the disappointingly fussy, clumsy, old-fashioned one by Lee Blakeley the company unveiled in 2013 for Conlon and to celebrate the Verdi bicentennial.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Not overcomplicating it, not making it over-fussy.—
Rod Stafford Hagwood,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Even worse, deer aren’t very picky.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The other reason for picky old rockers to show up is that this company achieves some very powerful harmonics on many of those songs, utilizing Marriott’s immersive capabilities.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Tugging on the heartstrings can be a cheap trick in the hands of the wrong songwriter, but the genre’s best songs are redeemed by a fastidious eye and a poetic ear.—
Jack Hamilton,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
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Some birds, most notably crows, like to give their food a good dunking before eating, so there’s a possibility worms in the birdbath were left by these fastidious birds.—
Joan Morris,
Mercury News,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Reliable Service as an Operational Standard Clients in Dallas-Fort Worth should expect something more demanding than friendliness and something less theatrical than branding.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The dual-motor setup targets higher output and improved traction for more demanding driving conditions.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pernickety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pernickety. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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