Definition

Someone who is very attentive to detail and hard to please, often wanting everything to be perfect.

Example

She is fastidious about her appearance, always making sure her clothes are perfectly pressed.

Conversation

I noticed you're quite fastidious about your cooking.

I just like everything to be perfect, you know?

It definitely shows! Your meals always look amazing.

Thanks! I believe that being fastidious really pays off in the end.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Fastidious → It is formed from "fastidium" (meaning disgust or loathing) in Latin, which is derived from "fastidire" (meaning to loathe or to be weary of). The word "fastidious" describes someone who is very attentive to detail and often difficult to please, reflecting a sense of meticulousness that can stem from a strong aversion to anything less than perfect.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who has a strong 'disgust' ('fastidium') for anything that is not perfect, which helps you remember that 'fastidious' means being very attentive to detail and hard to please.

Visually Confused Words