fastidiousness
/fæˈstɪd.i.əs.nəs/ IELTSAcademic
noun
Fastidiousness is the quality of being very careful about details, cleanliness, or high standards. It can also mean being hard to please.
- Her fastidiousness showed in every neat detail.
- The editor's fastidiousness improved the report.
- His fastidiousness makes him difficult to shop for.
Adinary Nuance
Fastidiousness is closer to extreme care than to simple neatness. It is more negative than words like carefulness or attention to detail, because it can suggest being overly picky. Compared with meticulousness, it often hints more clearly that the person may be hard to satisfy.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- sự kỹ tính
- Spanish
- exigencia
- Chinese
- 挑剔
- Japanese
- 几帳面さ
- Korean
- 까다로움
Etymology
Fastidiousness comes from the adjective fastidious, which entered English in the 16th century from Latin fastidiosus, meaning 'disdainful' or 'hard to please'. The noun later developed from this idea of carefulness and exactness.
Common phrases
fastidiousness about detailfastidiousness in groomingwith fastidiousness
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is fastidiousness a positive word?
- It can be positive or negative. It often praises carefulness, but it can also suggest being too picky.
- What is the difference between fastidiousness and meticulousness?
- Meticulousness usually sounds neutral or positive. Fastidiousness can sound more critical, because it may suggest fussiness.
- Is fastidiousness common in business writing?
- Yes, especially in formal writing about quality, standards, or careful work.