finicky

English

Etymology

From finicking, from finical, from fine

Adjective

finicky (comparative finickier or more finicky, superlative finickiest or most finicky)

1. (informal) Fastidious and fussy; difficult to please; exacting, especially about details.

   The baby was finicky until her diaper was changed.

2. (informal) Demanding, requiring above-normal care.

   The lawnmower is a bit finicky in cold weather.

Usage notes

• The forms finickier and finickiest also exist, but are quite rare, and perhaps nonstandard. The forms more finicky and most finicky are much more common, and certainly standard.

Synonyms

• fastidious, fussy
• See wikisaurus:fastidious

Derived terms

• finickiness
• finickity