Pedantic: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when someone is overly concerned with minor details or rules, often in a way that is annoying.

• He can be quite pedantic, correcting every tiny mistake in our reports.
• Her pedantic approach to grammar makes conversations with her exhausting.

Describes someone who shows great attention to detail, often in a positive sense.

• She is meticulous in her work, ensuring every detail is perfect.
• His meticulous planning made the event a huge success.

Indicates a high degree of accuracy and exactness, often in a neutral or positive sense.

• She gave precise instructions so everyone knew exactly what to do.
• He is very precise in his calculations, ensuring there are no errors.

Refers to looking for small or unimportant errors, often in a critical or negative way.

• His constant nitpicking irritates his colleagues.
• She spent too much time nitpicking over minor issues instead of focusing on the big picture.

Used to describe someone who strives for flawlessness and is often dissatisfied with anything less than perfect.

• Being a perfectionist, she finds it hard to delegate tasks.
• His perfectionist nature makes him very hardworking but also stressed.

When someone is overly concerned with small details or formal rules, often in a way that annoys others. This term often carries a negative connotation.

• She gave a pedantic lecture on grammar that bored everyone

Used to describe someone who is academic and learned, often focusing on studies and research. This word has a positive connotation.

• He has written many scholarly articles on ancient history

Used when referring to seriousness about studies or education, or relating to an educational environment. It can also imply something theoretical or not practical.

• He has a very academic approach to problem-solving

When someone tries to appear more important or knowledgeable than they really are, often in a way that seems insincere. This term is generally negative.

• She made a pretentious remark about her extensive travels

Describes someone who shows an exaggerated sense of self-importance and is often seen as irritating. This word has a strong negative connotation.

• His pompous speech about his achievements turned everyone off