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Perfectionist: meaning, definitions and examples

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perfectionist

 

[ pəˈfɛkʃ(ə)nɪst ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

personality trait

A perfectionist is someone who sets extremely high standards for themselves and strives for flawlessness in everything they do. They are often very detail-oriented and meticulous in their work.

Synonyms

meticulous, nitpicker, perfectionism

Examples of usage

  • She is such a perfectionist that she will redo a task multiple times until it meets her standards.
  • His perfectionist tendencies can sometimes lead to feelings of frustration and dissatisfaction.
Context #2 | Noun

psychology

In psychology, a perfectionist is someone who has a tendency to be overly critical of themselves and others, leading to feelings of anxiety and stress. They often have a fear of failure and strive for unattainable perfection.

Synonyms

demanding, overachiever, self-critical

Examples of usage

  • Her perfectionist mindset causes her a great deal of stress and anxiety.
  • The perfectionist nature of his work can be both a strength and a weakness.

Translations

Translations of the word "perfectionist" in other languages:

🇵🇹 perfeccionista

🇮🇳 पूर्णतावादी

🇩🇪 Perfektionist

🇮🇩 perfeksionis

🇺🇦 перфекціоніст

🇵🇱 perfekcjonista

🇯🇵 完璧主義者

🇫🇷 perfectionniste

🇪🇸 perfeccionista

🇹🇷 mükemmeliyetçi

🇰🇷 완벽주의자

🇸🇦 مثالي

🇨🇿 perfekcionista

🇸🇰 perfekcionista

🇨🇳 完美主义者

🇸🇮 perfekcionist

🇮🇸 fullkomnunarsinni

🇰🇿 мінсіздікке ұмтылушы

🇬🇪 პერფექციონისტი

🇦🇿 mükəmməlliyyətçi

🇲🇽 perfeccionista

Word origin

The term 'perfectionist' dates back to the early 19th century, derived from the word 'perfection' with the suffix '-ist', indicating a person who adheres to perfection. The concept of perfectionism has been studied in psychology and philosophy, highlighting the impact of high standards on mental health and well-being.

See also: imperfect, imperfection, perfect, perfecting, perfection, perfectionism, perfectly.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #28,415, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.