as in nice
informal + disapproving
having or showing the annoying attitude of people who care too much about dressing and behaving properly and who are easily upset by other people's behavior, language, etc.
She was too prissy to wear jeans. a prissy do-gooder
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Recent Examples of prissy
Albee's 1962 play won a Tony Award, and would have also won a Pulitzer Prize for drama, if the prissy trustees of Columbia University hadn't overruled the jury.
—
Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2023
Some of that’s changing times, some of that is because a not-insignificant portion of W.A.S.P. fans are prissy suburbanites themselves.
—Andy O'Connor, SPIN, 13 Jan. 2023
It’s a corny, sporty early-’90s rom-com about a hockey bruiser and a prissy figure skater who team up against the odds to compete in Olympic pairs skating.
—Vulture, 7 Feb. 2022
McGregor speaks with a prissy American accent that in its own way is as expressive as Ray’s trumpet playing.
—Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Oct. 2022
The former embodies Professor Dovey, a prissy headmistress in Tweety Bird-yellow threads, who’s always going on about the rules, while Theron’s evil-minded Lady Lesso takes her fashion cues from Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 19 Oct. 2022
Sharon Sanders: — and perfume and being prissy (laughs).
—CBS News, 21 May 2022
After her father’s death, Delilah Green grew up in the company of her frosty stepmother, Isabel, and prissy stepsister, Astrid—so as soon as high school was over, Delilah left town and never looked back.
—Keely Weiss, Harper's BAZAAR, 25 Feb. 2022
Bows may seem prissy, but there's actually surprisingly versatile.
—Bella Cacciatore, Glamour, 9 Dec. 2021
Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2023
Some of that’s changing times, some of that is because a not-insignificant portion of W.A.S.P. fans are prissy suburbanites themselves.
—Andy O'Connor, SPIN, 13 Jan. 2023
It’s a corny, sporty early-’90s rom-com about a hockey bruiser and a prissy figure skater who team up against the odds to compete in Olympic pairs skating.
—Vulture, 7 Feb. 2022
McGregor speaks with a prissy American accent that in its own way is as expressive as Ray’s trumpet playing.
—Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Oct. 2022
The former embodies Professor Dovey, a prissy headmistress in Tweety Bird-yellow threads, who’s always going on about the rules, while Theron’s evil-minded Lady Lesso takes her fashion cues from Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 19 Oct. 2022
Sharon Sanders: — and perfume and being prissy (laughs).
—CBS News, 21 May 2022
After her father’s death, Delilah Green grew up in the company of her frosty stepmother, Isabel, and prissy stepsister, Astrid—so as soon as high school was over, Delilah left town and never looked back.
—Keely Weiss, Harper's BAZAAR, 25 Feb. 2022
Bows may seem prissy, but there's actually surprisingly versatile.
—Bella Cacciatore, Glamour, 9 Dec. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prissy
Adjective
-
And, the embroidery on the pillowcases adds a nice touch.—
Shalwah Evans,
People.com,
14 July 2025
-
The units also vary in shape: the cube is nice for nightstands, while the wider grand size works well on large dressers.—
Jamie Fischer,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
In the more demanding Steel Nomad benchmark, the Dell 16 Plus trailed both the Acer Swift 16 AI and LG Gram Pro.—
Brian Westover,
PC Magazine,
17 July 2025
-
All while playing the most physically demanding position on the field, which Raleigh does at an above-average level.—
Tyler Small,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
Adjective
-
Tasters enjoyed Canada Dry’s balance of flavors, noting that its delicate citrus played well with a sharp bitter note on the back of their tongues.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 July 2025
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For instance, delicate fabrics like wool, silk, or linen will likely have different washing requirements than white cotton garments.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
The composers also had to navigate the IP’s legacy, in particular, that of John Williams’ original heroic themes – the very DNA of Superman.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
14 July 2025
-
Direct costs are the immediate costs of a specific piece of research; indirect costs are those that cannot be directly connected to a particular project but which are necessary for research.—
Clifford Ando,
Chicago Tribune,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
However, realizing these benefits demands careful tool selection, integration, oversight and governance.—
John Arsneault,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
-
Both pranking and writing are exercises in careful observation.—
Katie Yee
July 25,
Literary Hub,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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His work was polished, prim, and proper at a time where society prioritized all things polished, prim, and proper.—
Elise Taylor,
Vogue,
30 June 2025
-
And, most explosively, prim and proper Aurora Fain, who bedecked herself in geegaws for a night at the opera, is left reeling after her husband announces he’s fallen in love with another woman.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
23 June 2025
Adjective
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Its sandbox-style user experience can be finicky, but the results are solid.—
Bernard May,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
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There, Remy helps bumbling kitchen worker Alfredo Linguini cook a series of increasingly delectable dishes that soon attract the attention of the city’s most finicky restaurant critic, Anton Ego.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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Future View Of Mentorship Looking ahead, the role of mentors in fostering innovation will become even more critical and nuanced.—
David Henkin,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
-
The project has previously announced actors for nearly all of the key characters in Rowling’s first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: Emmy winner John Lithgow (Conclave) takes on the critical role of Hogwarts’ wise and warm Headmaster Albus Dumbledore.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
15 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prissy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prissy. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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