Perfectionism Vocabulary

verb to regard or represent as perfect or better than in reality

• It is not healthy to constantly idealize someone without recognizing their flaws.
• Stop idealizing that celebrity, they're just a regular person like everyone else.
• Don't be so quick to idealize your crush, they might not be as perfect as you think.
• In literature, authors often idealize certain characters to represent virtues or ideals.

noun a slight feeling of annoyance or discomfort

verb to criticize or complain about something in a petty way

• The constant niggle in my lower back has been bothering me for weeks.
• I have this annoying niggle in my phone that keeps freezing the screen.
• I can't stand that little niggle in my shoe, it's driving me crazy!
• There's always a niggle of doubt in the back of my mind whenever I make a big decision.

noun a person who looks for small or unimportant errors or faults, especially in order to criticize unnecessarily

verb to criticize or find fault with small or unimportant details

• The professor was known for his nit picking when it came to grading assignments.
• Stop nit picking every little detail and just enjoy the movie.
• Why are you always nit picking my outfit?
• Her constant nit picking at her own flaws was starting to affect her self-esteem.

noun a person who finds fault with details or minor points

verb to engage in nitpicking, to criticize or find fault with minor details

• The professor is known to nitpick every detail in the research papers submitted by students.
• My mom always nitpicks about the way I fold my clothes.
• Stop nitpicking, it's not a big deal.
• Don't nitpick at the flaws in the plan, focus on the overall strategy instead.

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun, in this case, 'overconscientious' describes someone who is excessively diligent or meticulous

• She was known for being overconscientious in her work, always double-checking every detail to ensure accuracy.
• He's a bit overconscientious about keeping his desk organized, even rearranging it multiple times a day.
• Some people think being overconscientious is just being a perfectionist, but I think it's more about being too uptight.
• Her overconscientious nature was like a heavy weight on her shoulders, always worrying about things that didn't really matter.

adjective excessively concerned with minor details or rules; overly critical

adverb in a nitpicky manner

• She is known for being nitpicky when it comes to grammar and punctuation.
• My boss can be so nitpicky about how I organize my desk.
• Stop being so nitpicky about every little detail, it's annoying.
• His nitpicky attitude towards life prevents him from enjoying the present moment.