fastidious

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

See synonyms for: fastidious fastidiously fastidiousness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

excessively particular, critical, or demanding; hard to please: a fastidious eater.
requiring or characterized by excessive care or delicacy; painstaking.

Origin of fastidious

1375–1425; late Middle English <Latin fastīdiōsus squeamish, equivalent to fastīdi(um) lack of appetite, disgust, perhaps by syncope of *fastutīdium (fastu-, combining form of fastus pride, conceit + -tīdium combining form of taediumtedium) + -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. 2023

How to use fastidious in a sentence

He made me stand and wait as he fastidiously counted his English coins into the palm of my hand, which I found a bit humiliating.
Ralph Fiennes Discusses ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel,’ J. Lo, and That ‘Seinfeld’ Episode | Marlow Stern | March 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
One answer is that the networks have been working fastidiously to trim the production costs of the shows.
Can Jimmy Fallon Be Himself on ‘The Tonight Show’? | Tom Shales | February 17, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Instead he fastidiously organizes and fleshes out the fantastical worlds of his own making.
Why Billy Collins Is America’s Most Popular Poet | Austen Rosenfeld | October 22, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
In those remarks, he said the vast majority of his requests for security resources were “considered seriously and fastidiously.”
Benghazi’s Intensifying Blame Game | Eli Lake | October 10, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
And now the latest character in the saga is Choupette, a 9-month-old Siamese kitten upon whom he fastidiously dotes.
7 Facts to Know About Karl Lagerfeld’s Siamese Cat, Choupette | Isabel Wilkinson | June 7, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST

The alien picked his way fastidiously through the noxious debris to the end of the long room.
Star Born | Andre Norton
He was of robust carriage, of refined manners, fastidiously dressed, and very rich.
The Reign of Greed | Jose Rizal
He was born in the lap of a society daintily intellectual and fastidiously cultivated.
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 16, No. 97, November, 1865 | Various
Some were left, as though the thief had fastidiously made his selection, scorning to trouble himself with anything but the best.
The Second Latchkey | Charles Norris Williamson and Alice Muriel Williamson
God might come walking lightly in and perhaps seat himself fastidiously in my chastest chair.
I, Mary MacLane | Mary MacLane

British Dictionary definitions for fastidious

fastidious

/ (fæˈstɪdɪəs) /

adjective

very critical; hard to please
excessively particular about details

exceedingly delicate; easily disgusted

Origin of fastidious

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

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