Picky: meaning, definitions and examples

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picky

 

[ หˆpษชki ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

person

Showing or requiring great attention to detail; difficult to please.

Synonyms

choosy, discriminating, fussy, selective.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
picky

Often used to describe someone who is very specific about their preferences, sometimes to the point of being difficult to please. It can carry a negative connotation.

  • She is so picky about her food that eating out with her is a challenge
selective

Indicates someone who is very careful in choosing among various options, often implying discernment and good judgment. It generally has a neutral or positive tone.

  • They are selective about which projects they work on, ensuring that each one aligns with their values
choosy

Implies being very careful in making a choice or selecting among options, but generally less negative than 'picky'.

  • He is quite choosy when it comes to selecting a new book to read
fussy

Similar to 'picky', this word often has a negative connotation and describes someone who is overly particular or demanding, especially in trivial matters.

  • He's so fussy about how his clothes are folded that nobody else dares to do his laundry
discriminating

Describes someone with refined tastes who is able to make fine distinctions. It often has a positive connotation indicating good judgment.

  • She is a discriminating wine collector, only choosing the best vintages for her cellar

Examples of usage

  • She was very picky about her food.
  • He's very picky when it comes to choosing a movie to watch.
  • The boss is picky about the presentation format.
Context #2 | Adjective

thing

Of high quality and standard; carefully selected.

Synonyms

exclusive, premium, select, top-quality.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
picky

Suitable for describing someone who is very particular and difficult to please, often in a negative or critical sense.

  • She's very picky about the clothes she wears.
  • He's picky when it comes to choosing restaurants.
premium

Typically relates to products or services that are of high quality and come with a higher price, often implying superior standards.

  • This is a premium brand of coffee.
  • They only stay in premium hotels.
select

Often describes a small, special group of people or things chosen for their superior quality.

  • We have a select list of guests for the party.
  • Only a select few were invited to the private screening.
exclusive

Used to describe something limited to a particular group or not available to everyone, often giving a sense of luxury or high status.

  • They live in an exclusive neighborhood.
  • The club is very exclusive and hard to get into.
top-quality

Typically used to describe something of the best quality available.

  • These shoes are made from top-quality leather.
  • We're looking for top-quality candidates for this position.

Examples of usage

  • The restaurant serves picky dishes from around the world.
  • She has a picky taste in fashion.
  • The picky ingredients used in the recipe make it special.

Translations

Translations of the word "picky" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น exigente

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคšเฅเคจเคฟเค‚เคฆเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช wรคhlerisch

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ pemilih

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฒะธะฑะฐะณะปะธะฒะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ wybredny

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๆฐ—้›ฃใ—ใ„

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท difficile

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ quisquilloso

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท titiz

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊นŒ๋‹ค๋กœ์šด

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุตุนุจ ุงู„ุฅุฑุถุงุก

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ vybรญravรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ vyberavรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆŒ‘ๅ‰”

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ izbirฤen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ vandlรกtur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ั‚ะฐะปา“ะฐะผะฟะฐะท

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ’แƒแƒœแƒ”แƒ‘แƒแƒ›แƒแƒฎแƒ•แƒ˜แƒšแƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ seรงici

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ quisquilloso

Etymology

The word 'picky' originated from the late 19th century, derived from the word 'pick', meaning to choose or select carefully. Over time, 'picky' has evolved to describe someone who is very selective or particular, often with a negative connotation. The term is commonly used in informal contexts to describe someone who has specific preferences or high standards.

See also: pick, picked, picker, pickiness, picking, pickle, pickup.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #31,368 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.