pernickety
Americanadjective
adjective
-
excessively precise and attentive to detail; fussy
-
(of a task) requiring close attention; exacting
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of pernickety
1800–10; originally Scots; of uncertain origin; the prefix per- occurs in a number of other expressive words in Scots, e.g. pergaddus thump, clatter, perskeet fastidious, perjink trim, neat
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.
Someone else who worked with Mr Raab said his behaviour was "arbitrary, pernickety" and he was "very hard on junior staff" and "extremely difficult to work with".
From BBC • Jan. 31, 2023
The character was already written as a pernickety fussbudget but Daniels tuned into his damaged quality also.
From The Guardian • Sep. 3, 2015
Sounds pernickety, but Terry Murphy reminded me of the millions of parcels they handle every year.
From BBC • Nov. 13, 2013
If some creatures can tolerate lower pHs and others cannot, you might expect things to average out: the tolerant and adaptable prosper, the more pernickety perish.
From Economist • Jul. 1, 2010
Recently, after enduring more than half a century of relentless, pernickety attention, the ornamental garden had been abandoned.
From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
