finicky

adjective

fin·​icky ˈfi-ni-kē How to pronounce finicky (audio)
1
: extremely or excessively particular, exacting, or meticulous in taste or standards
a finicky eater
My teacher is finicky about spelling.
2
: requiring much care, precision, or attentive effort
a finicky recipe
… growing the finicky Pinot Noir grape …Kim Marcus
finickiness noun

Did you know?

If you’re a reader of a certain age (say, a Boomer, Gen Xer, or even a Xennial), you may remember cheeky television commercials featuring Morris, a finicky housecat who only eats a certain brand of cat food. (Morris is still featured on product labels.) Morris's tastes in cuisine are not only very particular, but very fine as well, and that's appropriate given the origin of finicky. The word came about as an alteration of finicking, itself an alteration of another adjective, finical. It's believed that finical derives from the adjective fine.

Examples of finicky in a Sentence

My teacher is finicky about grammar. a complicated and finicky recipe
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Christmas cactus can be finicky, and consistency is key. Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Oct. 2024 While the sport itself is booming, nordic testing circumstances have never been more finicky, with snowless conditions across much of the United States. Stephanie Pearson, Outside Online, 8 Oct. 2024 The wearable’s pair of side buttons are a nice touch, too, given the Lily 2’s touch display has always been finicky to use. Sheena Vasani, The Verge, 2 Oct. 2024 Moreover, while statisticians can find ways to correct for this, Rubin realized that their methods tended to be finicky and specialized, with each situation practically requiring its own master’s thesis. Quanta Magazine, 2 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for finicky 

Word History

Etymology

alteration of finicking

First Known Use

circa 1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of finicky was circa 1825

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near finicky

Cite this Entry

“Finicky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/finicky. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

finicky

adjective
fin·​icky ˈfin-i-kē How to pronounce finicky (audio)
: very hard to please : fussy
a finicky eater
finickiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on finicky

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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