# fastidious

/fæˈstɪdiəs/ (US) · /fɑːstˈɪdɪəs/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fastidious
Updated: 2026-10-07

## Definition

giving a lot of attention to small details and wanting everything to be perfect. You use this to describe someone who is very careful or even difficult to please because they are so neat and organized.

For teachers: showing or demanding excessive delicacy or care; reflecting a meticulous and demanding attitude toward detail or cleanliness. Often used to describe individuals who are difficult to please due to high standards.

## Examples

- She is fastidious about keeping her desk organized.
- The chef is fastidious about the quality of his ingredients, personally inspecting every delivery before it enters the kitchen.
- His fastidious attention to historical accuracy ensured that every costume in the film was a perfect replica of eighteenth-century attire, though it significantly delayed the production schedule.

## Synonyms

meticulous, exacting, fussy, scrupulous, particular, painstaking, finicky

## Antonyms

sloppy, careless, lax, negligent

## Usage notes

- Often followed by the preposition 'about'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.