What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
fastidious
Example
She was fastidious about keeping her house clean. [fastidious: adjective]
Example
He is a fastidious eater and won't eat anything that doesn't meet his standards. [fastidious: adjective]
punctilious
Example
He was punctilious in his manners and always followed proper etiquette. [punctilious: adjective]
Example
She was punctilious about arriving on time for meetings. [punctilious: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Fastidious is more commonly used than punctilious in everyday language. Fastidious is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while punctilious is less common and more specific to following rules and etiquette.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between fastidious and punctilious?
Both fastidious and punctilious are formal words that are typically used in professional or academic settings. However, punctilious may be considered more formal due to its association with following rules and etiquette.
