delicacy

1 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 bit, cate [archaic], dainty, delectable, goody (or goodie), kickshaw, tidbit (also titbit), treat, viand Related Words morsel; candy, dessert, junket, sweet, sweetmeat

2 the state or quality of having a delicate structure <we never cease to marvel at the delicacy of a snowflake> Synonyms daintiness, exquisiteness, fineness, fragility, frangibility Related Words diaphanousness, flimsiness, insubstantiality, wispiness; brittleness, crumbliness, friability Near Antonyms firmness, solidity; strength Antonyms coarseness, crudeness, crudity, roughness, rudeness

3 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 qualmishness, queasiness, squeamishness Related Words daintiness, fastidiousness, finicalness, finickiness, fussiness Near Antonyms boldness, gutsiness Antonyms indelicacy

4 the quality or state of being very accurate <the delicacy of the watch movement is incredible> Synonyms accuracy, accurateness, closeness, precision, exactitude, exactness, fineness, nicety, perfection, preciseness, rigor, rigorousness, ultraprecision, veracityRelated Words correctness, fidelity, rightness, strictness, truth; definiteness, definitiveness, definitude, determinacy; nicety, subtlety; care, carefulness, fastidiousness, meticulousness, persnicketinessNear Antonyms approximation, roundness; falseness, falsity, incorrectness, wrongness; carelessness, guesswork, looseness; indefiniteness, vaguenessAntonyms coarseness, impreciseness, imprecision, inaccuracy, inexactitude, inexactness, roughness

5 the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor <all of her life the shy poet gave the appearance of extreme delicacy> Synonyms asthenia, debilitation, debility, weakness, enervation, enfeeblement, faintness, feebleness, fragility, frailness, frailty, infirmity, languidness, languor, listlessness, lowness, wimpinessRelated Words decay, decrepitude; breakdown, collapse, prostration; exhaustion, fatigue, lassitude, weariness; defenselessness, helplessness, impotence, impuissance, powerlessness; effeteness, softness, tenderness; disablement, incapacitation, invalidism; damage, harm, hurt, impairment, injuryNear Antonyms energy, vitality; brawniness, fitness, heftiness, huskiness, lustiness, muscularity, virility; hardness, ruggedness, stoutness, sturdiness, toughness; health, healthiness, soundness, wellnessAntonyms hardihood, hardiness, robustness, strength, vigor

6 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 acuteness, acuity, keenness, perceptiveness, perceptivity, sensitiveness, sensitivity, sharpnessRelated Words hyperacuity, hypersensitiveness, hypersensitivity, oversensitiveness, oversensitivity, supersensitivity; accuracy, exactitude, exactness, fineness