pedantic
gb/pədˈæntɪk/ us/pədˈæntɪk/
C1
English
szőrszálhasogató, pedáns, tudálékos
C1
1
pedáns
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is pedantic about [details/rules]
He’s so pedantic about commas that it slows the whole editing process down.
Annyira szőrszálhasogató a vesszőkkel kapcsolatban, hogy lelassítja az egész szerkesztési folyamatot.
Don’t be pedantic—everyone understood what she meant.
Ne légy szőrszálhasogató – mindenki értette, mire gondolt.
The reviewer was pedantic about the wording but missed the bigger point.
Learner examples
My teacher is pedantic about spelling.
A tanárom szőrszálhasogató a helyesírást illetően.
Stop being pedantic about small mistakes.
Ne légy szőrszálhasogató az apró hibákkal kapcsolatban.
Common mistake:
Often negative: it suggests the focus on details is unnecessary or irritating, not simply ‘careful’.
Meaning
too focused on small details
Collocations
pedantic about grammar
|pedantic about punctuation
|pedantic about rules
|pedantic about terminology
|pedantic attention to detail
|a pedantic correction
|a pedantic insistence
|a pedantic distinction
|needlessly pedantic
|overly pedantic
Synonyms
nitpicky (More informal; strongly suggests finding tiny faults.)
|
picky (More general; not necessarily about rules or correctness.)
|
punctilious (More formal; emphasizes strict correctness and procedure.)
Antonyms
easygoing (Not strict about details or rules.)
|
relaxed (Not overly concerned with correctness.)
|
practical (Focused on what matters rather than minor details.)
Themes
communication
|education
|behavior
Definition
Too careful about small details and rules.
Giving too much importance to small details, rules, or formal correctness, especially in a way that seems annoying or unnecessary.
C1
2
tudálékos
C1
Usage pattern:
[something] is pedantic (in tone/style)
His pedantic explanation made a simple problem sound complicated.
A tudálékos magyarázata egy egyszerű problémát is bonyolultnak tüntetett fel.
The article is informative, but the writing can feel pedantic at times.
A cikk informatív, de a stílusa időnként tudálékosnak hat.
She avoided a pedantic lecture and gave us a clear summary instead.
Learner examples
The talk was interesting but a little pedantic.
Az előadás érdekes volt, de egy kicsit tudálékos.
Common mistake:
This sense is about style and attitude (sounding like a lecture), not just being accurate.
Meaning
overly academic or bookish style
Collocations
a pedantic tone
|pedantic language
|pedantic writing
|a pedantic lecture
|a pedantic explanation
|a pedantic style
|pedantic jargon
|unhelpfully pedantic
|slightly pedantic
|rather pedantic
Synonyms
pretentious (Broader; focuses on trying to seem important, not specifically on details or learning.)
|
academic (Often neutral; unlike 'pedantic', it does not necessarily criticize.)
|
bookish (Suggests sounding like books; less about correcting others.)
Antonyms
plain-spoken (Uses simple, direct language.)
|
down-to-earth (Practical and not showy or overly academic.)
Themes
communication
|writing
|education
Definition
Too academic or showing knowledge in an annoying way.
Using too much academic language or displaying knowledge in a way that seems pretentious, dull, or inappropriate for the situation.
Grammar
Dictionary form
pedantic
IPA
GB/pədˈæntɪk/
US/pədˈæntɪk/
Syllables & stress
pedant - ic (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ic)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: pedantic
Word family
Core family
pedant
noun
pedantry
noun
pedantically
adverb
Expressions
pedantic about [something]
1/pədˈæntɪk əbˈaʊt sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
too strict about details
Too careful about small details in one area.
Examples
- She’s pedantic about formatting, even in quick internal emails.
- He gets pedantic about chess rules when we’re just playing for fun.
- Don’t be pedantic about the exact wording—focus on the idea.
Learner examples
- He is pedantic about grammar.
pedantic in tone
1/pədˈæntɪk ˈɪn tˈoʊn/
fixed phrase
overly formal, lecture-like voice
Sounds too academic and too correct.
Examples
- The email was pedantic in tone and came across as condescending.
- His review is pedantic in tone, as if he’s grading the reader.
- Try to be helpful rather than pedantic in tone.
Learner examples
- The message sounded pedantic in tone.