1. Urgently needed; absolutely necessary; SYN. vital.
2. Forming or having the nature of a turning point or crisis; SYN. decisive.
3. Characterized by careful evaluation and judgment
4. Being in or verging on a state of crisis or emergency
5. Marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws
6. Of or involving or characteristic of critics or criticism
7. (Chemistry and physics) At or of a point at which a property or phenomenon suffers an abrupt change especially having enough mass to sustain a chain reaction
1. Affectedly effeminate or refined; SYN. mincing, niminy-piminy, prim, twee.
2. Especially pleasing to the taste; SYN. tasty.
3. Excessively fastidious and easily disgusted; SYN. nice, overnice, prissy, squeamish.
4. Of delicate composition and artistry; SYN. exquisite, fine.
ETYM Latin fastidiosus disdainful, from fastidium loathing, aversion, perh. from fastus arrogance (of uncertain origin) + taedium loathing. Related to Tedious, Fash.
1. Giving and careful attention to detail; hard to please; excessively concerned with cleanliness.
2. (Microbiology) Having complicated nutritional requirements; especially growing only in special artificial cultures; SYN. exacting.
Very hard to please; particular about details; fussy and squeamish.