pernickety — placing too much emphasis on trivial or minor details; fussy
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: placing too much emphasis on trivial or minor details; fussy
Pronunciation (IPA): /pərˈnɪkɪti/
Example Sentences
- My pernickety grandmother arranges her bookshelf alphabetically by author's middle name.
- The pernickety food critic sent back his soup because the parsley wasn't chopped finely enough.
- Don't be so pernickety about the font choice - it's just an email.
pernickety
ADJECTIVE[/pərˈnɪkɪti/]
placing too much emphasis on trivial or minor details; fussy
The pernickety librarian realigns every book spine to the exact millimeter.
Being pernickety about the rickety chair while ignoring the thickety path!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Scottish dialect, first appearing in mid-19th century English. The word combines the sense of being 'particular' with 'finicky' behavior, typical of Scottish linguistic creativity.
Breakdown
pernick- (Scottish dialect root meaning 'particular/fussy') + -ety (suffix forming adjectives expressing quality or state)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My pernickety grandmother arranges her bookshelf alphabetically by author's middle name.”
“The pernickety food critic sent back his soup because the parsley wasn't chopped finely enough.”
“Don't be so pernickety about the font choice - it's just an email.”
“His pernickety attention to grammar makes him an excellent proofreader.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.