fastidious

[ fa-stid-ee-uhs, fuh- ]
See synonyms for fastidious on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. excessively particular, critical, or demanding; hard to please: a fastidious eater.

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

Origin of fastidious

1
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

synonym study For fastidious

1. See particular.

Other words from fastidious

  • 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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use fastidious in a sentence

  • Lacking this excluded multitude his fastidiousness would have no subject, and his singularity no contrast.

    Ceres' Runaway | Alice Meynell
  • But in addition to the fact that he finds no deer, he is a good deal of trouble from the fastidiousness of his appetite.

    Three in Norway | James Arthur Lees
  • One can understand, of course, how an unreasonable and troublesome fastidiousness might be shown regarding travellers' tales.

    Mysterious Psychic Forces | Camille Flammarion
  • She told herself that his fastidiousness shrank from any but a "light touch," and that hers had not been light enough.

    Tales Of Men And Ghosts | Edith Wharton
  • She retraced her steps, putting down her feet with the delicate fastidiousness of a cat in order not to tread on a flower.

    Balloons | Elizabeth Bibesco

British Dictionary definitions for fastidious

fastidious

/ (fæˈstɪdɪəs) /


adjective
  1. very critical; hard to please

  2. excessively particular about details

  1. exceedingly delicate; easily disgusted

Origin of fastidious

1
C15: from Latin fastīdiōsus scornful, from fastīdium loathing, from fastus pride + taedium weariness

Derived forms of fastidious

  • fastidiously, adverb
  • fastidiousness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012