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Definition of nitpick

nitpick

/ˈnɪt.pɪk/
nit · pick
Plural:nitpicks
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Adjective:nitpicky
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Past Simple:nitpicked
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Past Participle:nitpicked
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Present Participle:nitpicking
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nitpick Lexical Profile

nitpick Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To engage in fussy or pedantic fault-finding; to criticize minor or inconsequential details.

Example

"Instead of evaluating the overall strategy, the manager chose to nitpick every minor typo in the draft."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• noun

1

A minor, trivial, or overly pedantic criticism or point of fault.

Example

"Aside from a few minor nitpicks about formatting, the committee approved the research proposal."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for nitpick

• Nearby Words

nishinoshima
nisqually
nit
nitpick
nitpicker
nitpicking
nitpicky

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the mid-20th century as a back-formation from "nitpicking" or "nitpicker," which figuratively alludes to the tedious, painstaking task of picking the tiny eggs of lice (nits) out of hair.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Nitpick. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/nitpick
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