adj
finicky
FIH-nih-kee
Finicky (adj) means Overly fussy or hard to please, especially about small details. Example: “My cat is finicky about her food and won't eat anything stale.”
adj
1
Overly fussy or hard to please, especially about small details.
"My editor is very finicky about punctuation. Every dot and comma has to be just right."
"My cat is finicky about her food and won't eat anything stale."
"The old printer is finicky and jams if the paper isn't loaded just right."
"She has a finicky baby that's hard to feed."
How to use finicky
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFussy, picky, or needing extra care to get right.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
finicky eater
finicky about details
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Word forms
- Comparative
- finickier, more finicky
- Superlative
- finickiest, most finicky
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
My cat is _____ about her food and won't eat anything stale.
Etymology
From finick, an old word meaning "to fuss over unnecessary details," plus the adjective suffix -y.
Related words
Rhymes for finicky
See all rhymes for finicky →Frequently asked questions
What does “finicky” mean?
The word “finicky” means overly fussy or hard to please, especially about small details. In plain terms, fussy, picky, or needing extra care to get right.
How do you pronounce “finicky”?
“Finicky” is pronounced FIH-nih-kee (/ˈfɪnɪki/ in IPA).
How do you use “finicky” in a sentence?
Here is “finicky” used in a sentence: “My cat is finicky about her food and won't eat anything stale.”
What is another word for “finicky”?
Words with a similar meaning to “finicky” include exacting, fastidious, fussy, meticulous, particular and picky.
What part of speech is “finicky”?
“Finicky” is an adjective.
