Words / C2

fa-STID-ee-uh-s/fæˈstɪdiəs/

Fastidious means very fussy about detail, or easily put off by mess and impurity. Writers use it instead of fussy when they want a cooler, less mocking tone (a fastidious editor). In speech picky or fussy is normal; fastidious can sound faintly superior.

Meaning

Very careful about details, or easily disgusted.

Examples

• “He is fastidious about punctuation.”
• “She is fastidious about how the table is set.”
• “A fastidious reader will notice the inconsistent dates.”

Good to know

Fussy about detail, or easily disgusted. Everyday: picky.

Near in meaning

fussy

New