Perfectionist: meaning, definitions and examples

A person who strives for flawlessness and sets high performance standards. This term can both have positive and negative connotations, often depending on the level of inflexibility.

• She is a perfectionist when it comes to her work, always paying attention to the smallest details.
• Being a perfectionist, he finds it hard to delegate tasks.

The tendency to seek perfection in oneself, work, or other areas of life. It can be a positive trait, but often leans towards negative when it leads to excessive stress or unrealistic standards.

• His perfectionism makes him double-check every detail, sometimes to the point of causing delays.
• Perfectionism can drive people to achieve great things, but it can also lead to burnout.

A person who finds faults in small or unimportant details. This term has a negative connotation as it implies being overly critical or petty.

• He's such a nitpicker, always pointing out minor errors that don't really matter.
• Instead of appreciating the overall project, she was a nitpicker about the tiniest flaws.

Describes someone who shows great attention to detail. This term has a positive connotation and suggests thoroughness and precision.

• Her meticulous approach to organizing events makes everything run smoothly.
• The artist was meticulous in his brush strokes, ensuring each one was perfect.

Use this word to describe someone who strives for flawlessness and sets very high standards for themselves and others. This can be both positive and negative, depending on the context.

• She's a perfectionist when it comes to her work, always double-checking every detail
• His perfectionist nature can sometimes be stressful for his team

This word is used for someone who critiques themselves harshly. It can have both positive and negative implications depending on the extent and impact of the behavior.

• He's very self-critical, always finding flaws in his own work
• Being self-critical helps her improve, but it sometimes makes her too hard on herself

Refer to someone who performs better or achieves more success than expected, usually due to their hard work and dedication. This word is generally positive.

• Despite her busy schedule, she's an overachiever who always manages to exceed expectations
• In school, he was known as an overachiever, always getting the highest grades

This word typically refers to someone who expects a lot from others and may be difficult to please. It often has a negative connotation.

• The coach is very demanding and always pushes the players to their limits
• Working under such a demanding boss can be exhausting