Fastidious

adj.thoughtful, capableprofessional

Meaning 1

Very attentive to accuracy, cleanliness, and detail.

Reach for it when praising exacting care where accuracy, cleanliness, or finish matters

The fastidious conservator documented every tiny repair.

everyday
thorough
complete work matters more than tiny detail
not when Thorough is less exacting about finish or cleanliness.
professional
meticulous
careful accuracy is wholly positive
not when Meticulous omits fastidious's possible fussiness.
professional
precise
exact measurement or wording is the strength
not when Precise describes a result, not necessarily a person's habits.
formal
scrupulous
ethical or procedural care drives the precision
not when Scrupulous can imply moral concern rather than neatness.

Difficult to satisfy because preferences or standards are unusually exact.

Reach for it when naming burdensome selectiveness without disguising it as praise

The fastidious editor rejected every ambiguous caption.

everyday
fussy
minor details receive excessive attention
not when Fussy is dismissive and erases the value of legitimate standards.
everyday
particular
someone has narrow preferences that others must meet
not when Particular can sound mild where standards cause repeated rejection.
formal
discriminating
refined judgment separates stronger from weaker options
not when Discriminating sounds approving where selectiveness is obstructive.
formal
exacting
a demanding standard is central
not when Exacting may describe the task rather than the person.

fastidious attention
Fastidious attention preserved the manuscript's faint marks.
fastidious standards
Her fastidious standards improved the catalogue but delayed publication.
fastidious about detail
The cabinetmaker is fastidious about detail around every joint.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.