Persnicketiness definition of persnicketiness by The Free Particular definition is rather tricky to comprehend. It refers to someone who is vitally picky and nitpicking. A persnickety individual tends to be meticulous and does not settle for less when it comes to quality and perfection. Their meticulousness can be seen as admirable, but it can also lead to overly demanding criticism and avoidable dissatisfaction. Being persnickety is typically connected with meticulous focus on specifics but can also be seen as a type of pedantry.