pedantic 

Ostentatious regarding one's intelligence. Using this word also makes you this word.

Bob: I find the professor's voice mellifluous and her logic trenchant, even if a bit pedantic.

Jim: I find YOU a bit pedantic.

pedantic by bulldog4574 March 2, 2010

pedantic 

Pointing out unnecessary minutiae in order to call attention to one's pretentiousness.

I suppose you can forgive them because part of their job is paying attention to detail, but you best be pedantic as fuck if you want to fit in on an engineering team.

pedantic by Coopuh Troopuh December 6, 2016

pedanticked 

When people make tiny pointless criticisms entirely missing the big picture.

I asked for high-level feedback on my paper, but instead they pedanticked the shit out of it.

pedanticked by FroznMbryo February 5, 2021

pedantics

Noun (malapropism): Pedantic semantics

I do not care for your pedantics, Annie. I will use my words how I choose.

pedantics by Tastiest Avenger September 11, 2023

pedantsturbation 

n. any form of mental masturbation that is particularly pedantic; for instance, officiously correcting others' trivial mistakes with no constructive purpose; also, any type of discourse that is specifically designed to impress or confuse the reader/listener with "big" words and/or fancy phraseology, particularly to disguise the fact that: a) there is no real underlying point, or b) the pedantsturbator in question cannot defend his/her position with sound logic or evidence.

basically, it's like sophistry with an added masturbatorial goal, such as oneupmanship.

those creationists sure do try, but without compelling evidence, no amount of pedantsturbation will convince me that the theory of evolution isn't valid.

pedantsturbation by rtarbinar July 6, 2009

pedantic sexism

When a man critiques/criticizes a small detail of something a woman has said or done and mansplains at her about it, either "correcting" her or shaming her for being "incorrect" somehow. Importantly, the gendered nature of the interaction indicates he would not have made any comment, or would have been less rude about it, if the woman were, in fact, a man. Bonus points if there are examples of other errors, or more egregious ones, by men in the same situation at that moment (i.e. comments on a discussion forum or a group of people talking).

Anne says, "I have only the best vegetables in my basket!" Tom says, "So do I! Look at these ripe tomatoes we both have!" Roger points at Anne and says, "Anne, don't you realize tomatoes are fruits? There are tomatoes in your basket, so you can't say you have only vegetables in your basket, now can you?" Anne says, "Wow, Roger, what a great example of pedantic sexism! I love how you go after me about tomatoes, when I wasn't even the person to mention them!"

pedantic sexism by NerdFighterForAwesome December 3, 2013

pedantic 

Showing one's intelligence more than is necessary.

David Pearce could be pedantic if he so chose.

pedantic by Larstait November 15, 2003