nit-picky
Obsessed with details
Nit-picky describes excessive attention to minor details or trivial faults.
Someone nit-picky finds small imperfections others would overlook: Don't be so nit-picky about the formatting.
The word comes from nit-picking—literally removing lice eggs from hair, a task requiring tedious, close examination.
Also spelled nitpicky.
Excessively prone to censure
- censoriousSeverely critical in judgment
- carpingTrivial persistent criticism
- fault-findingExcessive focus on errors
- criticalExpressing disapproval or importance
judgmental · disparaging · censuring · overcritical · nagging · complaining · griping · reproachful
Excessively concerned with minor rules
- hair-splittingExcessive focus on trivialities
- quibblingPetty objection-raising
- cavilingPetty fault-finding
- captiousGiven to petty criticism
pettifogging · sophistic · legalistic · literalist · semantic · technical · academic · scholastic
Excessively particular, hard to satisfy
- fussyExcessively particular
- choosyOverly particular about preferences
- particularSpecific or fussy
- persnicketyExcessively concerned with details
fastidious · squeamish · dainty · demanding · selective · hard-to-please · difficult · exacting
One demanding flawlessness
- exactingDemanding great care
- demandingRequiring great effort
- meticulousShowing extreme attention to detail
- detail-orientedFocused on small elements
precise · thorough · rigorous · uncompromising · particular · fastidious · scrupulous · flawless
Lacking significance or weight
- pettyOf little importance
- minorScale with lowered third
- insignificantLacking importance or consequence
- triflingOf no real importance
niggling · small · unimportant · inconsequential · minutiae · hair-splitting · overblown · microscopic
hypercritical
Excessively prone to censure
- censoriousSeverely critical in judgment
- carpingTrivial persistent criticism
- fault-findingExcessive focus on errors
critical · judgmental · disparaging · censuring · overcritical · nagging · complaining · griping · reproachful · disapproving
pedantic
Excessively concerned with minor rules
- hair-splittingExcessive focus on trivialities
- quibblingPetty objection-raising
- cavilingPetty fault-finding
captious · pettifogging · sophistic · legalistic · literalist · semantic · technical · academic · scholastic · doctrinaire
finicky
Excessively particular, hard to satisfy
- fussyExcessively particular
- choosyOverly particular about preferences
- particularSpecific or fussy
persnickety · fastidious · squeamish · dainty · demanding · selective · hard-to-please · difficult · exacting · discriminating
perfectionist
One demanding flawlessness
- exactingDemanding great care
- demandingRequiring great effort
- meticulousShowing extreme attention to detail
detail-oriented · precise · thorough · rigorous · uncompromising · particular · fastidious · scrupulous · flawless · impeccable
trivial
Lacking significance or weight
- pettyOf little importance
- minorScale with lowered third
- insignificantLacking importance or consequence
trifling · niggling · small · unimportant · inconsequential · minutiae · hair-splitting · overblown · microscopic · picayune
nit-pickycareless
Inattentive, prone to mistakes
sloppy · big-picture · unfussy · inattentive · heedless
nit-pickyeasygoing
Relaxed in temperament
laid-back · relaxed · tolerant · uncritical · undemanding
nit-pickylenient
Tolerant of faults
forgiving · permissive · indulgent · unconcerned · accepting