Definition

overly particular, fussy, or demanding about details or aspects of something, especially trivial ones

Pronunciation

US English

UK English

Part of speech

adjective

Synonyms

meticulous, fastidious, finicky, picky, nitpicky, fussy, demanding, overcritical, exacting

Antonyms

carefree, relaxed, easygoing

Example sentences

  • The director was known for being extremely persnickety about the smallest details on set.
  • I can never please my persnickety boss, no matter how hard I try.
  • The restaurant’s persnickety customers always sent back their food because it wasn’t to their exact specifications.

Usage

The word “persnickety” is used to describe someone who is overly particular or fussy about details, especially in a demanding or critical manner. This word is often used to describe someone who is difficult to please or who pays excessive attention to trivial details. For example, a persnickety boss might nitpick about the smallest mistakes, or a persnickety customer might send back food that is not perfectly prepared to their exact specifications. The term “persnickety” can also be used in a more general sense to describe anything that is overly demanding or fussy