Fastidious — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /fa-ˈsti-dē-əs/ fas·tid·i·ous

Meaning & Definition of Fastidious

Fastidious (adjective)

  1. extremely or excessively careful or detailed
  2. extremely or excessively exacting, particular, or discerning
  3. characterized by extreme or excessive concern about cleanliness or neatness

Fastidious (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. hard to please

    "he is very fastidious about how he arranges his music collection, and woe to anyone who dares to mess around with it"

    similar: choosy, dainty, delicate, demanding, exacting, finical, finicking, finicky, fussbudgety, fussy, nice, old-maidish, particular, pernickety (chiefly British), persnickety, picky
    related: hyperfastidious, overdemanding, ultrafastidious, discerning, discriminating, selective, insightful, knowledgeable, captious, carping, caviling, critical, faultfinding, hypercritical, overcritical, careful, meticulous, painstaking, punctilious, scrupulous, queasy, squeamish, peevish, petulant, prickly, touchy, niminy-piminy, prim, prissy
    opposite: undemanding, unfastidious, unfussy
    near: affable, breezy, carefree, devil-may-care, happy-go-lucky, lackadaisical, laid-back, low-pressure, relaxed, flexible, lax, loose, lenient, permissive, uncritical, indiscriminating, undiscriminating

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Fastidious

The most common words with a similar meaning to Fastidious:

Chiefly British: pernickety
choosy, dainty, delicate, demanding, exacting, finical, finicking, finicky, fussbudgety, fussy, nice, old-maidish, particular, persnickety, picky

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Fastidious

Words with the opposite meaning of Fastidious:

undemanding, unfastidious, unfussy

Related Words for Fastidious

hyperfastidious, overdemanding, ultrafastidious, discerning, discriminating, selective, insightful, knowledgeable, captious, carping, caviling, critical, faultfinding, hypercritical, overcritical, careful, meticulous, painstaking, punctilious, scrupulous, queasy, squeamish, peevish, petulant, prickly, touchy, niminy-piminy, prim, prissy

Near Antonyms of Fastidious

affable, breezy, carefree, devil-may-care, happy-go-lucky, lackadaisical, laid-back, low-pressure, relaxed, flexible, lax, loose, lenient, permissive, uncritical, indiscriminating, undiscriminating

Word Forms of Fastidious

Derived words: fastidiously (adverb), fastidiousness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Fastidious

Middle English, from Latin fastidiosus, from fastidium disgust, probably from fastus arrogance (probably akin to Latin fastigium top) + taedium irksomeness tedium

First known use: 15th century

Words & Phrases Containing Fastidious

hyperfastidious

Frequently Asked Questions about Fastidious

What does "Fastidious" mean?

"Fastidious" means extremely or excessively careful or detailed. As an adjective, it is defined as: extremely or excessively careful or detailed.

What is another word for "Fastidious"?

Other words for "Fastidious" include choosy, dainty, delicate, demanding, exacting, finical, finicking and finicky. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Fastidious" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Fastidious"?

There are 45 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Fastidious". Common alternatives include choosy, dainty, delicate, demanding, exacting, finical, finicking, finicky, fussbudgety and fussy.

What is the opposite of "Fastidious"?

Antonyms of "Fastidious" include undemanding, unfastidious and unfussy. Near antonyms include affable, breezy, carefree and devil-may-care.

How do you use "Fastidious" in a sentence?

Examples of "Fastidious" in a sentence: "he is very fastidious about how he arranges his music collection, and woe to anyone who dares to mess around with it".

Is "Fastidious" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Fastidious" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Fastidious"?

"Fastidious" is pronounced /fa-ˈsti-dē-əs/ and divided into syllables as fas·tid·i·ous.

What is the origin of the word "Fastidious"?

"Fastidious" comes from Middle English, from Latin fastidiosus, from fastidium disgust, probably from fastus arrogance (probably akin to Latin fastigium top) + taedium irksomeness tedium. First known use: 15th century.