fastidious

/fæˈstɪdiəs/ (bre, ipa) · /fæˈstɪdiəs/ (ame, ipa) · /fa-ˈsti-dē-əs fə-/ (ame, mw)

fastidious — adjective

  • fastidiouspositive
  • more fastidiouscomparative
  • most fastidioussuperlative

1. wanting every part of something to be done with great care and exactness, someti

1.形容詞B2
釋義

wanting every part of something to be done with great care and exactness, sometimes to a degree that surprises or bothers other people

例句

Carlos is so fastidious about his work that he checks every email three times before sending it.

so fastidious about [work] — adjective + about + noun phrase

The fastidious chef sent the platter back because the garnish was placed at the wrong angle.

同義詞
  • meticulous

    more positive connotation; suggests thoroughness and precision rather than excessive concern

  • fussy

    more negative; implies unreasonable or unnecessary attention to small things

  • particular

    softer tone; suggests having clear preferences without being extreme

  • finicky

    informal; suggests being overly concerned with small, unimportant details

反義詞
  • careless

    shows no concern for detail at all

  • slapdash

    done too quickly without attention to quality

常見錯誤

My boss is fastidious to small mistakes.
My boss is fastidious about small mistakes.
💡fastidious takes the preposition about, not to.

2. not able to tolerate things that are dirty, messy, or unclean

2.形容詞B2
釋義

not able to tolerate things that are dirty, messy, or unclean

例句

Omar is so fastidious about hygiene that he washes his hands every time he touches a door handle.

so fastidious about [noun] — adjective + about + cleanliness noun

The fastidious traveller always carries wet wipes and cleans the hotel remote control on arrival.

同義詞
  • squeamish

    focuses on feeling disgust or nausea; slightly stronger and more visceral

  • particular

    softer; can apply to cleanliness but general enough to cover other preferences

反義詞
  • messy

    comfortable with or tolerant of untidiness

  • slovenly

    habitually untidy or careless in appearance

用法筆記

This sense focuses on physical cleanliness and hygiene. It is less common than the 'attentive to detail' sense and can imply a degree of discomfort or disgust when faced with mess.

常見錯誤

She is fastidious to dirt.
She is fastidious about dirt.
💡use about, not to, when connecting the adjective to the thing it refers to.