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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of picky
Sure, a comfy booth and a great kids’ menu may be enough to keep picky eaters pleased.
—
Liz Regalia, Parents, 8 Mar. 2025
Walsh’s shot deflected in off an SI defender, but at that point in the game, Mitty wasn’t picky.
—Christian Babcock, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2025
Dining and Culinary Experiences Everyone knows kids can be picky eaters, so Palmar Beach Resort offers a range of dining options as part of its Gourmet Culinary All-Inclusive Plan.
—Judy Koutsky, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
The obvious concern is that such a move could result in a loss of business, as there are always plenty of young publicists who are struggling to build their brands and eager to add a famous name to their client list without being too picky about contract terms.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for picky
Liz Regalia, Parents, 8 Mar. 2025
Walsh’s shot deflected in off an SI defender, but at that point in the game, Mitty wasn’t picky.
—Christian Babcock, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2025
Dining and Culinary Experiences Everyone knows kids can be picky eaters, so Palmar Beach Resort offers a range of dining options as part of its Gourmet Culinary All-Inclusive Plan.
—Judy Koutsky, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
The obvious concern is that such a move could result in a loss of business, as there are always plenty of young publicists who are struggling to build their brands and eager to add a famous name to their client list without being too picky about contract terms.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for picky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picky
Adjective
-
The duties will hit companies at a time when many consumers have become value-conscious and selective about spending due to persistent inflation and concerns about the economy.—
Melissa Repko,Gabrielle Fonrouge,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2025
-
Models are trained to draw from selective sources, ensuring the output is as reliable as possible.—
Yaw Fellin,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
As the consumer gets increasingly choosy , Ma said Costco is also a preferable play because of its focus on value.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
22 Oct. 2024
-
Despite some recent sales shortfalls, Signet has been effectively navigating a highly price-promotional retail landscape where consumers have become increasingly choosy.—
David Moin,
WWD,
1 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
But Pro-Ject removes this finicky process with a new Automat model.—
Paul Ridden,
New Atlas,
28 Mar. 2025
-
At one point, a pre-recorded announcement interrupted Jane Fonda’s lifetime achievement award acceptance speech, and several presenters, such as Andrew Scott and Adam Brody, had to deal with finicky microphones.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
But the discussion around Golden this season has been muted, strained and careful all the way to the end, Monday’s dramatic 65-63 comeback win against Houston to seize the title.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Although careful planning is essential, action generates momentum.—
Chris Gallagher,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
That seems off: Frank Beamer was the nice coach, who never seemed to get in people’s faces.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Oatmeal bath: Soaking in a cool bath that contains colloidal oatmeal, which has anti-inflammatory properties, can also feel nice, Dr. Miller says.—
Alisa Hrustic,
SELF,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Like most of Julia's recipes, the flavors are rich and balanced without any fussy ingredients or special tools.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Apr. 2025
-
And Mitchell is perfectly cast in a role seemingly built to suit his usual fussy, pedantic schtick.—
Anne Victoria Clark,
Vulture,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Jonathan Pryce plays the persnickety headmaster who prefers to keep politics outside the school walls.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
12 Sep. 2024
-
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
-
Javadi, in particular, seems unsure whether this experience has discouraged her from pursuing a career in emergency medicine.—
Ryan Schwartz,
TVLine,
10 Apr. 2025
-
The final contestants from Group C — Nessy, Mad Scientist Monster, and Yorkie — did not follow that particular decades trend, opting to jump around more in time instead.—
Lauren Huff,
EW.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Picky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picky. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share