different between fastidious vs picky

English

Etymology

From Latin fast?di?sus (“passive: that feels disgust, disdainful, scornful, fastidious; active: that causes disgust, disgusting, loathsome”), from fast?dium (“a loathing, aversion, disgust, niceness of taste, daintiness, etc.”), perhaps for *fastutidium, from fastus (“disdain, haughtiness, arrogance, disgust”) + taedium (“disgust”). Cf. French fastidieux.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fæ?st?di.?s/, /f??st?di.?s/

Adjective

fastidious (comparative more fastidious, superlative most fastidious)

1. Excessively particular, demanding, or fussy about details, especially about tidiness and cleanliness.

   Synonyms: exacting, fussy, meticulous, niggly, pernickety; see also Thesaurus:fastidious
2. Overly concerned about tidiness and cleanliness.
3. Difficult to please; quick to find fault.

Derived terms

• fastidiously
• fastidiousness

Translations

See also

• finicky

Further reading

• fastidious in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• fastidious in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• fastidious at OneLook Dictionary Search

English

Etymology

pick +? -y

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?p?ki/
• Rhymes: -?ki

Adjective

picky (comparative pickier, superlative pickiest)

1. Fussy; particular; demanding to have things just right.

   I am very picky about the way my kitchen is laid out.

Synonyms

• anal-retentive
• choosy
• finicky
• fussy
• particular
• pedantic
• See also Thesaurus:fastidious

Translations

Noun

picky (plural pickies)

1. (informal) A picture.
   • 1988 Alan Hollinghurst, The Swimming Pool Library, Penguin Books, paperback edition, page 44

     And who knows, I might do a few pickies of you - fully clothed, needless to say.

Alternative forms

• piccy

Synonyms

• pic