squeamish

[ skwee-mish ]

adjective

1. fastidious or dainty.

   Synonyms: modest

   Antonyms: bold

2. easily shocked by anything slightly immodest; prudish.

   Antonyms: bold

3. excessively particular or scrupulous as to the moral aspect of things.

   Synonyms: exacting, delicate, finicky, finical

   Antonyms: bold

4. easily nauseated or disgusted:

   to get squeamish at the sight of blood.

squeamish

/ ˈskwiːmɪʃ /

adjective

1. easily sickened or nauseated, as by the sight of blood
2. easily shocked; fastidious or prudish
3. easily frightened

   squeamish about spiders

Derived Forms

• ˈsqueamishness, noun
• ˈsqueamishly, adverb

Other Words From

• squeamish·ly adverb
• squeamish·ness noun
• over·squeamish adjective
• over·squeamish·ly adverb
• over·squeamish·ness noun
• un·squeamish adjective
• un·squeamish·ly adverb
• un·squeamish·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of squeamish¹

First recorded in 1450–1500; late Middle English squaymysch, squaimish(e), alteration of squemes, squaymes, squaimous, squaymous “easily nauseated, nauseating, fastidious,” from Anglo-French escoimus, escoymous; further origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of squeamish¹

C15: from Anglo-French escoymous , of unknown origin

Example Sentences

As a former vegetarian, I’m still squeamish about eating living things.

From Time

If you’re still a bit squeamish, you could follow Wynne’s recipes for her preserves and apply the water-bath method for processing them.

From Washington Post

The second is that I am infamous for being un-squeamish in dining.

From Washington Post

Before visiting the Roselands’ ranch, Virginia was squeamish about the idea of shooting an animal, and nervous that her experience at gun ranges wouldn’t translate to safety in the field.

From Outside Online

If you’re someone who’s a bit squeamish about the feeling of raw eggs in your hand, perhaps it’s not for you.

From Washington Post

None were squeamish about organising power to pursue their object.

From The Daily Beast

Katy Perry as a squeamish conservative is a little hard to swallow.

From The Daily Beast

Partisans are seldom over-squeamish about their choice of allies.

From The Daily Beast

Linda Kasabian, a more recent and squeamish recruit, was left to stand guard at the gate.

From The Daily Beast

Plenty of non-conservatives are squeamish about 20-plus-week abortions.

From The Daily Beast

Yet so squeamish did he become when once the official mantle had descended upon his shoulders, that even the exclamations “lud!”

From Project Gutenberg

Even for the most squeamish the discomforts of the voyage lay behind.

From Project Gutenberg

Had you not been so over squeamish you might have changed the children, and made your own son the heir of the Moncton.

From Project Gutenberg

Those who are responsible are squeamish as to the appearance of delicacy in the conduct of a young girl.

From Project Gutenberg

True humanity consists not in a squeamish ear, but in listening to the story of human suffering and endeavoring to relieve it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dizzy
• fastidious
• fussy
• queasy