nitpicking

UK: /ˈnɪtpɪkɪŋ/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

nit•pick or nit-pick /ˈnɪtˌpɪk/   v. 

1. to complain about petty details;
   niggle: [no object]
   He wasted time nitpicking.
   [~ + object]
   He nitpicked the report to pieces.

nit•pick•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

nit•pick  (nit′pik′), v.i. 

1. to be excessively concerned with or critical of inconsequential details.

v.t. 

2. to criticize by focusing on inconsequential details.

n. 

3. a carping, petty criticism.

adj. 

4. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a nitpicker or nitpicking.

Also, nit′-pick′. 

• nit¹ + pick¹ 1965–70

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

nit-picking noun

1. a concern with insignificant details, esp with the intention of finding fault

adjective

1. showing such a concern; fussy

Etymology: 20th Century: from nit¹ + pick¹

ˈnit-ˌpicker noun