DELICACY Synonyms: 167 Similar and Opposite Words

delicacy

noun

ˈde-li-kə-sē

Definition of delicacy

as in treat

something that is pleasing to eat because it is rare or a luxury presented with a plate of national delicacies while they waited for the queen

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in fragility

the state or quality of having a delicate structure we never cease to marvel at the delicacy of a snowflake

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in daintiness

the tendency to be or state of being squeamish the urgent need for blood prompted many people to overcome their habitual delicacy and become first-time donors

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in precision

the quality or state of being very accurate the delicacy of the watch movement is incredible

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in weakness

the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor all of her life the shy poet gave the appearance of extreme delicacy

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sensitivity

the state or quality of being able to sense slight impressions or differences the delicacy of the sensor is such that it will be affected by the slightest vibration

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of delicacy There was a lightness and delicacy to Giada‘s spring collection, which was inspired by jasmine, and Cosimo de’ Medici’s love of the Renaissance bloom. — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026 Once a seasonal delicacy, Jimmy’s sources squash blossoms ($25) year-round, stuffs them with ricotta and Parmigiano-Reggiano and lightly batters and fries them. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026 Surgery a few days later cut out 90% of the tumor, but brain cancers are almost impossible to remove entirely, because of the delicacy of the tissue they're embedded in, Schulte said. — Arthur Allen, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026 Besides beer, pretzels, pork roast and sausages were also sought-after delicacies. — ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for delicacy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for delicacy

Noun

It's filled with favorite foods, drinks and treats — from Mexican Coke to Ecuadorian sodas — honoring people as individuals.

— CBS News, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
Pack a Wilder Townhouse basket of treats to take with you for a picnic.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of treat

Noun

However, a Ukrainian commander interviewed by The War Zone described cable breakage, equipment fragility, and handling difficulties.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
The pope is now embracing that same fragility and uncertainty that many others with a similar diagnosis have faced.

— Antonia Mortensen, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of fragility

Noun

The process was particularly intricate, as each interlacing detail on the bodice had to be carefully constructed by weaving hundreds of meters of rouleau and while maintaining the tension and precision of the corsetry underneath.

— Shelby Wax, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2026
Manufacturing breeches and breech blocks requires precision engineering and strict quality controls.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of precision

Noun

These give the driver real-time control over accelerator pedal sensitivity, wheel slip thresholds (with nine traction settings) and cornering agility.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026
The authors concluded that improved laboratory sensitivity and statistical methods could help agencies better interpret drinking-water monitoring results.

— Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of sensitivity

Noun

In this find, the dirhams were cut into smaller pieces and used as a means of payment, with their value linked to the weight and fineness of the silver.

— Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2026
The fineness of the line between the two genres indicates that in her work overall, change is a matter of gradations.

— Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026

Definition of fineness

Noun

Bryant is a restrained writer, and the fastidiousness of his elastic text does little to allay those who are likely to become inflamed.

— Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
More such fastidiousness will be needed to arrest the domino effect of delegitimization and to renew the small guarantees of truth and dignity in public life customarily provided by legacy institutions.

— Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026

Definition of fastidiousness

Browse Nearby Words

delicacies

delicacy

delicate

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Delicacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delicacy. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of delicacy

noun

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