Definition

Adjective: 1. Excessively fastidious, fussy, or easily disgusted: Describes a person who is overly concerned with cleanliness, neatness, or propriety to a point that seems fussy or prim. 2. Exaggeratedly proper, prim, or prudish: Describes a person or manner that is affectedly correct, formal, or strait-laced.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Her prissy roommate refused to share utensils and constantly wiped down surfaces.
  • He gave a prissy sniff of disapproval at the casual dress code.
  • The prissy manners of the character made her seem out of touch with everyone else.

Advanced Usage

• Used to describe behavior or attitudes: Often implies a judgment that the person's fastidiousness is excessive, annoying, or pretentious.
  • His prissy insistence on formal titles in every email slowed down communication.
• Can describe objects or styles metaphorically: Sometimes used to describe things that seem excessively dainty, fussy, or overly decorated.
  • The room was decorated in a prissy style, with too many lace doilies and fragile ornaments.

Variants and Related Words

• Prissily (adverb): In a prissy manner.
  • She prissily arranged the napkins, correcting every minor fold.
• Prissiness (noun): The quality of being prissy.
  • The prissiness of the establishment was evident in its many strict rules.

Synonyms

• Fastidious: Very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail.
• Prim: Feeling or showing disapproval of anything regarded as improper; stiffly correct.
• Fussy: Full of unnecessary detail or decoration.
• Strait-laced: Having or showing very strict moral attitudes.
• Squeamish: Easily nauseated or disgusted.

Antonyms

• Easygoing: Relaxed and tolerant in attitude or manner.
• Unconcerned: Showing a lack of worry or interest.
• Bohemian: Socially unconventional in an artistic way.

Related Idioms/Phrases

• "Goody-two-shoes": (Informal, often derogatory) A person who is always well-behaved and eager to please, somewhat similar in implying an affected propriety.
  • She was tired of being called a goody-two-shoes just because she followed the rules.
• "Prim and proper": Behaving in a very formal and correct way.
  • His prim and proper demeanor made it hard for him to relax at the party.

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