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- Dictionarynitpicking/ˈnɪtˌpɪkɪŋ/
noun
- 1. fussy or pedantic fault-finding: informal "nitpicking over tiny details"
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NITPICKING definition: 1. giving too much attention to details that are not important, especially as a way of criticizing…. Learn more.
adjective. Synonyms. carp. cavil. fuss. niggle. quibble. See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus. Examples of nitpick in a Sentence. her husband nitpicks about everything: from how she puts the plates away to how she files the bills.
informal disapproving uk / ˈnɪt.pɪk / us / ˈnɪt.pɪk / Add to word list. to find faults in details that are not important: You're always nitpicking - it's so annoying! SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Disapproving & criticizing. anathematize. animadversion. aspersion. aw. backbite. barrel. bash. belabour. boo. disapprobation. knocker.
Nitpicking is a term, first attested in 1956, that describes the action of giving too much attention to unimportant detail. A person who nitpicks is termed as a nitpicker. The terminology originates from the common act of manually removing nits (the eggs of lice, generally head lice) from another person's hair.
to be excessively concerned with or critical of inconsequential details. verb (used with object) to criticize by focusing on inconsequential details. noun. a carping, petty criticism. adjective. Also nit·pick·y. of, relating to, or characteristic of a person who nitpicks: a nitpick review of the miniseries. Discover More. Word History and Origins.
noun. nit-pick· ing ˈnit-ˌpi-kiŋ. : minute and usually unjustified criticism. Examples of nit-picking in a Sentence. Recent Examples on the Web What followed was a nit-picking, photo finish of a taste test. Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 3 Nov. 2023.
If you refer to someone's opinion as nitpicking, you disapprove of the fact that it concentrates on small and unimportant details, especially to try and find fault with something. [disapproval] A lot of nit-picking was going on about irrelevant things.
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.
Definition of nitpicking noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
v. nit·picked, nit·pick·ing, nit·picks. v.intr. To be concerned with or find fault with insignificant details. See Synonyms at quibble. v.tr. To criticize or find fault with (someone or something) in a petty way. nit′pick′er n. American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
