nitpicking

Definitions, parts of speech, synonyms, and sentence examples for nitpicking.

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Editorial note

Perhaps this is nitpicking, but the Bible does not mention three wise men anywhere.

Examples14

Definitions2

Parts of speech1

Quick take

The painstaking process of removing nits (lice eggs) from someone's hair.

Meaning at a glance

The clearest senses and uses of nitpicking gathered in one view.

noun

The painstaking process of removing nits (lice eggs) from someone's hair.

noun

(figuratively, by extension) A process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors, particularly if the pointed-out details seem insignificant or irrelevant to all but the finder.

Definitions

Core meanings and parts of speech for nitpicking.

noun

The painstaking process of removing nits (lice eggs) from someone's hair.

noun

(figuratively, by extension) A process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors, particularly if the pointed-out details seem insignificant or irrelevant to all but the finder.

Example sentences

Perhaps this is nitpicking, but the Bible does not mention three wise men anywhere.

Your mission would be better served by people who understand how to get people to care rather than pointless nitpicking of facts.

Just for nitpicking, light doesn't travel the same speed in fiber as in vacuum.

This wasn't a costly errant click and if you did click, the page made itself obvious right away, so this feels like nitpicking.

I know that this is nitpicking, but it's highly doubtful that some random Obama staffer could just launch nukes willy-nilly.

Please remember the principle of charity and avoid nitpicking or misconstruing.

But please, enough with the nitpicking in search of ideology affirmation.

I hate that comments tend to hone in on nitpicking, but so it goes.

This might sound like nitpicking, but I truly think it's a real problem.

But I have only two rules, no deadlines, no nitpicking.

He surely could have referenced better, but I do believe you should have tried to interpret better his comment instead of nitpicking and being unnecessarily aggressive.

Actually, I'm not nitpicking, I agree with the first guy.

Quote examples

FT: And before you start nitpicking the numbers, a word of warning from the study: "Our Social Return on Investment analysis is not just an intellectual exercise – it has big implications for the way in which our society and economy are structured.