nitpick

American  

[nit-pik] / ˈnɪtˌpɪk /

Or nit-pick

verb (used without object)

1. to be excessively concerned with or critical of inconsequential details.

---

verb (used with object)

1. to criticize by focusing on inconsequential details.

noun

1. a carping, petty criticism.

adjective

1. Also nitpicky of, relating to, or characteristic of a person who nitpicks.

   a nitpick review of the miniseries.

Etymology

Origin of nitpick

First recorded in 1965–70; nit ¹ + pick ¹

Explanation

When you nitpick, you focus on small, specific mistakes. An English teacher might nitpick by pointing out an unnecessary comma in your otherwise perfect 20-page paper. People who nitpick are bothered by minor problems — or else they're just looking for something to criticize. A movie critic who dislikes a director might nitpick about her latest film's slight inaccuracies. Your mom might nitpick about your outfit, saying, "It's a shame your socks don't quite match." Nitpick was first used in 1962, and nitpicker came first, from the idea that nitpickers search for faults the way they might pick nits, or lice eggs, from someone's hair.

Example Sentences

If I had to nitpick, the tea wasn’t my favorite, but that’s a small complaint.

From Salon • Mar. 30, 2025

"You can nitpick and things like that. For me, if you asked me three years ago whether I'd be on this team... it's just a real honour."

From BBC • Aug. 8, 2024

“Just see what he’s thinking about and nitpick his brain a little bit, and then the same with him, he’ll call me and see what I think about certain things.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 23, 2023

When that happens, you can’t nitpick flaws in a goalie’s style.

From Seattle Times • May 5, 2023

“Can we just move this along? We don’t have time to nitpick each other.”

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall