fastidious

/fæsˈtɪdi.əs/

FÆSTꞮDI · əs (2 syllables)

English Adj Top 44,952
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Definition

Excessively particular, demanding, or fussy about details, especially about tidiness and cleanliness.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin fastīdiōsus (“passive: that feels disgust, disdainful, scornful, fastidious; active: that causes disgust, disgusting, loathsome”), from fastīdium (“a loathing, aversion, disgust, niceness of taste, daintiness, etc.”), perhaps for *fastutidium, from fastus (“disdain, haughtiness, arrogance, disgust”) + taedium (“disgust”). Cf. French fastidieux.

Example Sentences

  • "He had at first tried to clean up as they ate, his fastidious nature kicking in, but Chris had told him to just stop, he was blocking the TV."
  • "As she cleaned the room daily, she knew it was against his fastidious nature to bring or have food in his room."
  • "His fastidious nature had been evident in his careful snipping of a customer's hair and now he guided his pencil with the same adroitness."
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