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?
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Raven Smith, Vogue, 9 Dec. 2020
Raven Smith, Vogue, 9 Dec. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pernickety
Adjective
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Identifying ground zero for the advent of Dengue Fever can be tricky, but careful research has identified Aquarius Records in the heart of San Francisco’s Mission District as the primary origin of the infectiously melodic band.Andrew Gilbert, The Mercury News, 27 Dec. 2024
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Going slowly and applying heat with a hair dryer can help reduce the risk of damage, but the difficulty of this process is a solid reason to be careful with your installation.Simon Hill, WIRED, 27 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Honda is also working to reduce the indirect costs of production, including power consumption even though the necessary temperature of building as solid-state batteries are less finicky during production (and usage).Jake Lingeman, Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2024
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Mauritian women, a renewable source of cheap labor, might be trained to do the finicky work of drilling holes into jewels for luxury watches.Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Jonathan Pryce plays the persnickety headmaster who prefers to keep politics outside the school walls.Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2024
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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
Adjective
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In those first two games in particular, Hall and Bedard were menacingly circling the offensive zone during sustained pressure as Bertuzzi staked out his usual spot down low.Mark Lazerus, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024
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Shutdowns vary in scope and length, and calculating the cost of any particular shutdown is complicated.Louis Jacobson and Amy Sherman, Austin American-Statesman, 29 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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This time around, Meghan ditched the trailing over-skirt, the fussy updo, and the pointy shoes for a take that felt cooler and more modern—as well as commendably conscious.Kerry McDermott, Vogue, 20 Dec. 2024
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When selecting one for your child, consider their age and skill level, as intricate, small pieces or fussy details can lead to frustration rather than fun.Elizabeth Kocan, Parents, 21 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Some tropicals are more picky about needing good airflow than others, which determines how the enclosure is lidded to keep humidity in while avoiding stagnation.Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 19 Dec. 2024
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Both headsets are quite picky about where the lenses are relative to your eyes.Andrew Williams, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Even skeptics know the key personality traits of Zodiac signs: Virgos are fastidious, Scorpios can sting, and no matter how much fun Cancers have in the outside world, nothing beats a night in.Pratyush Sarup, Architectural Digest, 14 Dec. 2024
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There is going to be this look about her that’s very neat and clipped and tight and fastidious.Katie Campione, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Some squirrels at California’s college campuses have become infamous among students for their demanding behavior, even winning student elections, but they’ve never been seen hunting smaller rodents on such a widespread scale.Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024
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Watch it here, with a warning about his language: Season 2 will delve deeper into the personal and professional lives of NHL stars, offering viewers a 360-degree view of their lives both on and off the ice and sacrifice required to excel in one of the world’s most demanding sports.Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 19 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near pernickety
Cite this Entry
“Pernickety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pernickety. Accessed 2 Jan. 2025.
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