squeamish

American  

[skwee-mish] / ˈskwi mɪʃ /

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.

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squeamish British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• oversqueamish adjective
• oversqueamishly adverb
• oversqueamishness noun
• squeamishly adverb
• squeamishness noun
• unsqueamish adjective
• unsqueamishly adverb
• unsqueamishness noun

Etymology

Origin of squeamish

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

Example Sentences

There’s a price war going on and Novo Nordisk recently launched a pill version, which will attract people squeamish about weekly injections.

From The Wall Street Journal

For people who feel squeamish about the process, she said it was important to know the facts around donation, adding it often helped the grieving process for families.

From BBC

“I appreciate that you are no squeamish child. But if you do not give me a bit more space to breathe, I will have you go sit among the rhododendrons.”

From Literature

Things were different in Great Britain and her colonies, where dissections left people squeamish.

From The Wall Street Journal

In other words, her instincts and approach in the Home Office might make some within the party squeamish.

From BBC

Related Words

• dizzy
• fastidious
• fussy
• queasy