anal retentive

adjective

1. having an anal character.

noun

1. a person who is anal retentive.

anal retentive

noun

1. a person who exhibits anal personality traits

adjective

1. exhibiting anal personality traits

Word History and Origins

Origin of anal retentive¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

The eldest also intimated that the mother was a mild anal retentive personality.

From Literature

Patsy archly described someone as so anal retentive “she couldn’t sit down for fear of sucking up the furniture!”

From Wall Street Journal

When someone is categorized as being anal retentive it refers to Freud’s anal psychosexual stage.

From Salon

"I'm a weird combination of anal retentive and anal expulsive," he says while standing in front of a giant refrigerator crammed with film.

From Los Angeles Times

Without thinking, I put the petal into the bowl because I'm anal retentive and controlling and don't really enjoy, or even understand ornaments.

From BBC