Definition

The quality of being very particular about details or being hard to please.

Example

Her finickiness about food made it difficult to find a restaurant that she liked.

Conversation

I think my finickiness is getting worse when it comes to food.

Really? What do you mean by that?

I just can't eat anything that's not perfectly cooked or seasoned.

I get that; sometimes I feel the same way about my meals!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Finickiness is derived from "finicky" (from the 19th-century American English, possibly influenced by the word "finical", which comes from the Scottish "finical", meaning overly particular or fussy) and the suffix "-ness" (meaning the state or quality of). The word describes the state of being overly particular or fussy about details.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who is overly particular or fussy about things — that's what finickiness means, reflecting the quality of being finicky.

Visually Confused Words