1
as in choosey
hard to please
a picky cat who would only eat one particular kind of food, and only if it was served in his special dish
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in selective
tending to select carefully
she's picky, but she always finds the best quality in fresh meat and fish
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of picky
Votive experts and picky people wax poetic about scents from Harry Styles, Courteney Cox, and more
All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors.
—
Nora Taylor, Architectural Digest, 2 May 2025
There is even research that shows that color-blind men may be less likely to be picky eaters because their inability to discern clearly between colors hinders them from forming an emotional response to a food’s appearance.
—Bedatri D. Choudhury, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Apr. 2025
The menu is filled with healthy, customizable options perfect for picky eaters, all just steps from Levain Bakery, home to one of the city’s best chocolate chip cookies.
—Bea McMonagle, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
The Seahawks might continue to be picky and bypass selecting a quarterback later this month.
—Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for picky
Nora Taylor, Architectural Digest, 2 May 2025
There is even research that shows that color-blind men may be less likely to be picky eaters because their inability to discern clearly between colors hinders them from forming an emotional response to a food’s appearance.
—Bedatri D. Choudhury, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Apr. 2025
The menu is filled with healthy, customizable options perfect for picky eaters, all just steps from Levain Bakery, home to one of the city’s best chocolate chip cookies.
—Bea McMonagle, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
The Seahawks might continue to be picky and bypass selecting a quarterback later this month.
—Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for picky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picky
Adjective
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The research findings show just how much selective pressure plants face to attract new pollinators.—
Lauren Leffer,
Popular Science,
8 May 2025
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Brookings Institution senior fellow Daniel Hamilton said the deal is highly selective and limited despite Trump promoting it as a breakthrough.—
Haisten Willis,
The Washington Examiner,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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While tariffs may lead to consumers being more choosy, Link said the overall macroeconomic picture still looks positive, bolstered by lower interest rates, a steady job market and strong consumer savings.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
4 Mar. 2025
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And by that time in her career, Salonga could be choosy.—
Robert Ito,
New York Times,
16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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But the spring portal can also be particularly finicky.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2025
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Keep in mind: Shipping fresh flowers can be finicky, especially to hundreds of stores across the country.—
Andrea Beck,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The review process is careful for a reason – and perhaps the only real method of speeding it up is the one Zeldin has proposed: reassigning staff so there are more people to share the work.—
Jeffrey Gore,
The Conversation,
14 May 2025
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Hillman and the department urged residents in the area to be extra careful this time of year.—
Brooke Baitinger,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 May 2025
Adjective
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The Half Dome comes with a footprint, which is a rarity these days, and nice to have.—
Scott Gilbertson,
Wired News,
16 May 2025
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However, a very nice man let us in, much to the chagrin of a lady who did not want to let us in.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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But all of that felt a little fussy for something that should just have one job.—
Noah Kaufman,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
8 May 2025
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Children with the virus may be fussy, sleepy throughout the day and cry without tears.—
Adrianna Rodriguez,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
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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Over the past several decades, Wallen’s particular lyrical fascinations have grown impossibly coded, becoming shorthand for an entire world view.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
16 May 2025
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However, this particular security unit isn’t exactly a company-grade issue.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Picky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picky. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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