prissy

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Word: Prissy

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition: The word "prissy" describes someone who is very proper, neat, and sensitive about how things should be done. A prissy person often has strong opinions on what is acceptable and can seem overly careful or picky about cleanliness, manners, or behavior.

Usage Instructions:

• "Prissy" is often used in a slightly negative way to imply that someone is too concerned with being proper or neat, to the point that it can be annoying to others.
• You can use "prissy" to describe someone’s behavior, attitudes, or preferences.

Example Sentence:

• "My friend is so prissy that she refuses to eat anything that isn't served on a perfectly clean plate."

Advanced Usage:

• In literature or conversation, "prissy" can be used to highlight a character’s overly cautious or fussy nature, often leading to humor or conflict in social situations.

Word Variants:

• Prissiness (noun): The quality of being prissy.
  • Example: "Her prissiness makes it hard for her to relax at casual gatherings."
• Prissily (adverb): In a prissy manner.
  • Example: "He prissily adjusted his tie before entering the room."

Different Meanings:

• While "prissy" primarily refers to being overly proper or neat, it can also imply being easily offended by something that is considered improper or inappropriate.

Synonyms:

• Fussy
• Fastidious
• Squeamish
• Proper
• Overly neat

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly associated with "prissy," but you might hear phrases like "prissy about" to describe someone who is overly particular about certain topics.
  • Example: "She is prissy about her appearance and always looks immaculate."

Conclusion:

Understanding the word "prissy" can help you describe people or behaviors that are excessively proper or overly concerned with cleanliness and manners.

Academic

Adjective

1. excessively fastidious and easily disgusted
   • too nice about his food to take to camp cooking
   • so squeamish he would only touch the toilet handle with his elbow
2. exaggeratedly proper
   • my straitlaced Aunt Anna doesn't approve of my miniskirts

Synonyms

• dainty
• nice
• overnice
• squeamish