picky
UK: ˈpɪki | US: ˈpɪki
adj. overly fussy or selective, especially about small details
adj. difficult to please due to high standards
The word "picky" combines the verb "pick" (from Old English pician, meaning "to pluck or select") with the adjectival suffix "-y," which conveys a characteristic quality. Originally, "pick" referred to physical selection (e.g., picking fruit), but by the 17th century, it evolved to mean careful choosing. The suffix "-y" (from Old English -ig) transformed it into an adjective describing someone who selects with excessive care. The term gained its modern sense of fussiness in the early 20th century.
She's very picky about her coffee and only drinks single-origin beans.
The picky eater refused to touch anything green on his plate.
Hiring managers can be picky when reviewing resumes for top positions.
His picky taste in music made it hard to choose a playlist everyone liked.
The toddler grew less picky with food as she got older.