Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for nit-picking. Search instead for lip-licking.
Synonyms

nit-picking

British  

noun

  1. a concern with insignificant details, esp with the intention of finding fault

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. showing such a concern; fussy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of nit-picking

C20: from nit 1 + pick 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Gaining any new clarity about surging reports of unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAP, will take time, better data gathering and diagnostic tools and, perhaps most importantly, a hale and hearty dose of nit-picking scientific scrutiny.

From Scientific American Jun. 9, 2023

"Maybe there are a couple of little bits you could tighten here or there, but I think it's really nit-picking."

From BBC Nov. 9, 2022

Mr. Bolduc specializes in Japanese designers — Yohji Yamamoto, Issey Mikaye, Rei Kawakubo, Naoki Takizawa — and his videos are a blend of archival documentation, yesteryear nit-picking and whimsical outfit flaunting.

From New York Times Jul. 8, 2021

Spending so much time at home has me nit-picking every little stain and mark on my walls.

From Slate Nov. 30, 2020

Hubler had the same nit-picking argument with Deutsche Bank, with a difference.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training