Choosiness: meaning, definitions and examples

Often used in casual or informal settings where someone is being very particular or fussy about their preferences, especially in food, shopping, or dating.

• Her choosiness about clothes makes shopping trips very long.
• He showed a lot of choosiness in selecting a restaurant for dinner.

Usually applied in informal contexts to describe someone who is overly selective or difficult to please, often with a slightly negative connotation.

• His pickiness about food makes cooking meals challenging.
• Their pickiness when choosing a holiday destination resulted in a delayed decision.

Used in both formal and informal settings to indicate someone who has specific criteria or standards, generally perceived as more neutral or positive.

• The selectiveness of the committee ensures only the best candidates are chosen.
• Her selectiveness in hiring new staff means the team is very skilled.

Typically used in more serious or formal contexts, often relating to unjust or prejudiced treatment based on certain characteristics like race, gender, age, etc. It carries a negative connotation.

• The company has a zero-tolerance policy for any form of discrimination.
• She faced discrimination at work due to her disability.

Used when someone is being very careful or particular about what they accept or choose. It often carries a neutral to slightly negative connotation.

• Her choosiness made it hard to find a restaurant she liked

Used in a positive way to describe the quality of being careful about what you choose, often in academic, professional, or scientific contexts.

• The university's selectivity ensures that only the best students are admitted

Implies extreme attention to detail and a tendency to be very careful about cleanliness or correctness. Often has a positive connotation in professional or artistic contexts, but can seem overly meticulous or picky in everyday situations.

• His fastidiousness in his work ensures everything is perfect, but it can also make him hard to please

Carries a negative connotation and is used when someone is overly concerned with minor details or is difficult to satisfy. It suggests unnecessary or excessive concern.

• The child's fussiness over food made dinner time a challenge every night