Persnickety definition and meaning Choosy sense is fairly tricky to comprehend. It refers to someone who is immensely choosy and disapproving. A persnickety individual often pay strict attention to detail and has high standards when it comes to criteria and flawlessness. Their meticulousness can be regarded as praiseworthy, but it can also intensify overly demanding censure and unnecessary dissatisfaction. Being persnickety is regularly related to precise attention to detail but can also be seen as a type of obsessiveness.