2 syllables: Nit, picked. Stress on Nit.
NIT-pikt
/ˈnɪt.pɪkt/
Nitpicked is pronounced NIT-pikt (/ˈnɪt.pɪkt/). It has two syllables (Nit-picked), with the stress on "Nit". Nitpicked means to find and criticize minor, petty faults or details. It is typically used to describe a scrutinizing, fault-finding approach, often in a mildly negative or pedantic sense. The verb emphasizes meticulous review focused on small errors rather than substantive issues.
verbNitpicked means to find and criticize minor, petty faults or details. It is typically used to describe a scrutinizing, fault-finding approach, often in a mildly negative or pedantic sense. The verb emphasizes meticulous review focused on small errors rather than substantive issues.
"The editor nitpicked the manuscript, correcting every comma and spacing issue."
"Stop nitpicking the presentation and focus on the main argument."
"She nitpicked over punctuation, not realizing the point was the overall story."
Pronounce as /ˈnɪtˌpɪkt/. The first syllable has a stressed short “i” as in nit. The second syllable uses a short, high-front vowel followed by a crisp “kt” with a released stop. The stress is on the first syllable, with secondary stress on the second clitic. Tip: keep the /t/ final from the first syllable tightly clipped so it doesn’t bleed into the /p/ sound of the second syllable.
Common errors include: (1) Slackening the /t/ at the end of /ˈnɪt/ making it sound like ‘nit-pick’d’ with a strong /d/ or /ɪd/ ending; (2) Pushing the /p/ and /k/ together as a single blast; (3) Misplacing stress, articulating /ˌnɪtˈpɪkt/ instead of /ˈnɪtˌpɪkt/. Correction tips: snap /t/ sharply, release /p/ cleanly into /ɪ/ and maintain a firm /k/ before /t/; keep the vowel quality short and clipped in both syllables.
US: rhotic, clear /r/ doesn’t apply here; main variance is vowel quality in /ɪ/ and the quick /t/ release. UK: potential yod absence with crisp stop release; AU: often was more centralized vowel in /ɪ/ and slightly stronger inter-syllabic rhythm. In all accents, the /ˈnɪt/ carries primary stress; ensure the /t/ is crisp and the /p/ and /k/ are clearly separated.
Two key challenges: first, the two-stop sequence /t/ and /p/ without an intervening vowel can blur without precise timing; second, keeping the /ɪ/ in both syllables short and precise while not adding a vowel between segments. Practice with slow tempo, focusing on a clean release from /t/ into /p/ and a sharp /k/ release before final /t/; maintaining clear syllable boundaries helps improve overall intelligibility.
Yes. In connected speech, reduce vowel length only slightly in the second syllable and maintain a tight jaw for the /t/ and /p/ clusters. Practicing with a linking rhythm–say ‘nit-pickt’ swiftly but keeping the /t/ and /p/ distinct—helps ensure the listener perceives the two syllables clearly even when speed increases.
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Nitpick is a compound formed from nit, meaning a nit or small particle, and pick, meaning to pluck or remove. The combined sense emerged in English in the 17th-18th centuries, originally relating to removing lice nit by nit. Over time, the meaning broadened from literal pest control to figurative scrutiny of small details. The -ed form nitpicked appeared in the 19th century, aligning with other English verbs formed with -ed for past tense. The term gained everyday usage as a pejorative for meticulous but overly critical behavior, especially in professional or academic contexts. Etymology traces through Northern European language families, with “nit” linked to smallness or triviality in various Germanic languages, and “pick” as a generic action of selecting or removing. First known uses appear in advisory or editorial discourse where precise detail mattered, and the term subsequently entered common conversational English to describe pedantic critique.
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Words that rhyme with "Nitpicked"
-ked sounds
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