fastidious

[ fa-stid-ee-uhs, fuh- ]

adjective

1. excessively particular, critical, or demanding; hard to please:

   a fastidious eater.

2. requiring or characterized by excessive care or delicacy; painstaking.

fastidious

/ fæˈstɪdɪəs /

adjective

1. very critical; hard to please
2. excessively particular about details
3. exceedingly delicate; easily disgusted

Derived Forms

• fasˈtidiously, adverb
• fasˈtidiousness, noun

Other Words From

• fas·tidi·ous·ly adverb
• fas·tidi·ous·ness noun
• hyper·fas·tidi·ous adjective
• hyper·fas·tidi·ous·ly adverb
• hyper·fas·tidi·ous·ness noun
• nonfas·tidi·ous adjective
• nonfas·tidi·ous·ly adverb
• nonfas·tidi·ous·ness noun
• over·fas·tidi·ous adjective
• over·fas·tidi·ous·ly adverb
• over·fas·tidi·ous·ness noun
• ultra·fas·tidi·ous adjective
• ultra·fas·tidi·ous·ly adverb
• ultra·fas·tidi·ous·ness noun
• unfas·tidi·ous adjective
• unfas·tidi·ous·ly adverb
• unfas·tidi·ous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of fastidious¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin fastīdiōsus “squeamish,” from fastīdi(um) “lack of appetite, disgust” (perhaps from fastu(s) “pride, conceit” + -tīdium, combining form of taedium tedium ) + -ōsus -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of fastidious¹

C15: from Latin fastīdiōsus scornful, from fastīdium loathing, from fastus pride + taedium weariness

Synonym Study

See particular.

Example Sentences

She vacuums my carpet, and I asked her why she was so fastidious about vacuuming every nook and cranny in the house.

From Washington Post

As she builds a suitable existence, marrying a fastidious Oxford don and having babies, Fanny’s yearning for her cousin’s outsize presence gnaws at what is supposed to be domestic bliss.

From Time

All three are fastidious in not appearing to be party stooges.

From Time

The novel is fast-paced, but González is fastidious in tying together every character and almost-missable detail by the end.

From Outside Online

Similarly, as Chattman points out, you should be fastidious about making sure your bowls are completely clear of oil or other grease, as those fats can cause the same issue.

From Washington Post

Very rarely, though, that fastidious and precise pulse deteriorates into a disorganized scramble.

From The Daily Beast

Jeffries is apparently a frequent flyer as well as a fastidious and exacting one.

From The Daily Beast

But I can attest first hand: one lapse aside, Fareed is just such a fastidious writer.

From The Daily Beast

So that fastidious snuff-takers may dismiss this bugbear at once and forever.

From Project Gutenberg

It is one of the finest burning tobaccos in the world, and does not fail to suit the taste of the most fastidious of smokers.

From Project Gutenberg

Had she, so observant, so discerning in her fastidious taste—had she failed to notice the small detail too?

From Project Gutenberg

There are a great many obscene minds, yet more railing and satirical, but very few fastidious ones.

From Project Gutenberg

He was slow and fastidious in composition, and the poem suffered from over-elaboration.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• choosy
• discriminating
• exacting
• finicky
• fussy
• squeamish