fiddly

adjective

fid·​dly ˈfi-dᵊl-ē How to pronounce fiddly (audio)
chiefly British
: requiring close attention to detail : fussy
especially : requiring an annoying amount of close attention
the tiny control buttons on the back are fiddly M. J. McNamara

Examples of fiddly in a Sentence

connecting up all the wires and the other fiddly bits
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Years before analog thumbsticks would become a console standard, this thumbstick feels incredibly fiddly for the console's completely digital directional inputs. Ars Technica, 26 Nov. 2024 In automotive, though, where weight typically isn't as crucial and volume is king, it's been viewed as too slow, too expensive and too fiddly, so it's mainly been used for rapid prototyping and concept work – and the odd ultra-exclusive hypercar. New Atlas, 19 Nov. 2024 There are a lot of fiddly parts: capturing the right feedstock, securing it in the correct format and feeding any outputs into a preexisting commercial production process. Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 1 Nov. 2024 These days kids have their phones and are very fiddly. Alex Ritman, Variety, 8 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fiddly 

Word History

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fiddly was in 1926

Dictionary Entries Near fiddly

Cite this Entry

“Fiddly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fiddly. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.

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!