finicky

adjective

ˈfi-ni-kē How to pronounce finicky (audio)
Definition of finickynext
as in careful
hard to please cats have a reputation for being finicky eaters

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of finicky So, see ya, thirsty lawns and farewell, finicky flowers! — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Feb. 2025 This digital control system replaces finicky analog adjustments with simple voltage pulses, enabling error correction via measurements rather than complex rotations. — Luis E. Romero, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025 Forget about pricey extensions or finicky falsies in lieu of this formula that shoppers say has the same results. — Alyssa Grabinski, People.com, 18 Feb. 2025 Of course, trying to observe finicky birds in remote habitats full of uncontrollable variables may mean that this particular test would not be resolved anytime soon. — Jason Bittel, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for finicky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finicky
  1. careful
  2. nice
  3. persnickety
  4. picky
  5. particular
  6. fussy
  7. fastidious
  8. demanding
Adjective
  • These concerns underscore the need for careful consideration of privacy rights when deploying such technology.
    — Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 15 Mar. 2025
  • To make the most of spring planting, start with site preparation and careful plant selection.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of careful
Adjective
  • Not easy to do, but nice to come through tonight.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
  • After spending the last two seasons together at the University of Minnesota, it’s been nice having each other to lean on — and to geek out with.
    — Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of nice
Adjective
  • Jonathan Pryce plays the persnickety headmaster who prefers to keep politics outside the school walls.
    — Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2024
  • Kurkdjian’s policies as head of the department reflect both a persnickety attention to detail and an obsession with creative autonomy.
    — Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2024
Definition of persnickety
Adjective
  • Gregory’s picky eating has been a long-running gag on the show, but when Erica bails on a hard-to-get reservation, Barbara encourages Gregory to fill in so Janine doesn’t have to cancel.
    — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 29 Jan. 2025
  • Van Pay and Baumert are picky about words.
    — Jack Truesdale, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2025
Definition of picky
Adjective
  • Black women in particular have been using tools like flexi rods for generations.
    — Bella Cacciatore, Glamour, 10 Apr. 2025
  • One fire unit in particular specialized in collapsed structures.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of particular
Adjective
  • Mangold’s non-fussy treatment of a slice of Dylan history was enjoyable but slight.
    — Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2025
  • If all that seems too fussy, remember that there's always no-bake cheesecakes.
    — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2025
Definition of fussy
Adjective
  • The exhaustingly prolific Kidman stars as a fastidious suburban teacher/wife/mom who suspects her optometrist hubby (Macfadyen) is hiding something from her and enlists the help of a cute high school shop teacher (Bernal) to expose those secrets in the very strange town of Holland, Michigan.
    — Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2025
  • The girls are both members of the school’s choir, a traditionalist institution overseen with fastidious strictness by conductor Bojan (Saša Tabaković), whose preferred repertoire of dusty hymns and local folk songs gives the girls a collective air of ethereal purity when singing.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025
Definition of fastidious
Adjective
  • Scene-stealing comedic parts in the Pitch Perfect franchise and on series like Modern Family led to more physically demanding opportunities in series like The Righteous Gemstones.
    — Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Here’s a brief comparison between top programs in the United States and the United Kingdom: • U.S. Programs (e.g., Wharton, Kellogg): These are typically two years long with frequent in-person sessions; these programs offer an immersive but demanding experience.
    — Shai Zamanian, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of demanding

Browse Nearby Words

finicking
finicky
fining
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Finicky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finicky. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on finicky

Nglish: Translation of finicky for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)
See More

Popular

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

8 Words with Fascinating Histories
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a game of hangman on lined paper
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All