fastidious
fa-STID-ee-us
/fæˈstɪdiəs/
Very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail; hard to please.
Emphasizes meticulous standards of cleanliness, order, or correctness.
The story behind the word. In Latin, 'fastidium' meant disgust or squeamishness. It described someone so picky that ordinary things caused them physical distaste, eventually evolving to mean meticulous standards.
Word relationships
- punctilious: Punctilious focuses strictly on exact rules and etiquette, whereas fastidious includes hyper-cleanliness and general precision.
- slapdash: Slapdash means careless and hasty.
Commonly confused with
- fussy: Fussy carries a childish connotation, while fastidious is sophisticated or academic.
Word family
- fastidiousness (noun): Meticulous accuracy or extreme care.
Collocations
- fastidious attention
- fastidious worker
- fastidious taste
Example sentences
- "The historian was fastidious in checking every primary source before publishing her findings." Academic journal
Memory hook
FASTidious people need things done FAST and meticulously right, without any dirt. Hyper-picky about detail.
When not to use
Do not use for careless or relaxed attention to detail.
Fun facts
- Original English usage in the 1500s described people who were easily nauseated by poor manners.
Related words
Explore more words
meticulous, scrupulous, rigorous, assiduous, conscientious, intricate
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