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

I sense that the talk of missing eyeballs has you feeling a little squeamish.

From Literature

"I was uncomfortable… I was a bit squeamish about that," he said.

From BBC

Here McDermott’s inspired staging demonstrated that Glass’ forgiving personal portrait of Walt Disney makes it the quintessential Hollywood opera that no one dares bring to squeamish Hollywood.

From Los Angeles Times

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

Related Words

• dizzy
• fastidious
• fussy
• queasy