Synonyms of delicacy

delicacy

noun

ˈde-li-kə-sē 

1

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

• treat
• dainty
• candy
• sweet
• delectable
• viand
• tidbit
• cate
• dessert
• bit
• kickshaw
• goody
• morsel
• sweetmeat
• junket

2

as in fragility

the state or quality of having a delicate structure

we never cease to marvel at the delicacy of a snowflake

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fragility
• exquisiteness
• fineness
• daintiness
• brittleness
• frangibility
• flimsiness
• insubstantiality
• friability
• wispiness
• diaphanousness
• crumbliness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• roughness
• coarseness
• solidity
• rudeness
• firmness
• strength
• crudity
• crudeness

3

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

• daintiness
• fastidiousness
• squeamishness
• queasiness
• finickiness
• fussiness
• qualmishness
• finicalness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• indelicacy
• boldness
• gutsiness

4

as in precision

the quality or state of being very accurate

the delicacy of the watch movement is incredible

Synonyms & Similar Words

• precision
• accuracy
• preciseness
• perfection
• exactness
• exactitude
• fidelity
• fineness
• nicety
• truth
• rigor
• definiteness
• veracity
• definitiveness
• accurateness
• closeness
• rigorousness
• ultraprecision
• strictness
• subtlety
• correctness
• rightness
• fastidiousness
• meticulousness
• determinacy
• carefulness
• definitude
• care
• persnicketiness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• roughness
• approximation
• coarseness
• inaccuracy
• imprecision
• roundness
• inexactness
• inexactitude
• wrongness
• carelessness
• falsity
• impreciseness
• looseness
• incorrectness
• falseness
• vagueness
• guesswork
• indefiniteness

5

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• weakness
• exhaustion
• fragility
• feebleness
• fatigue
• languor
• tenderness
• faintness
• debility
• enervation
• impairment
• lowness
• languidness
• frailty
• infirmity
• enfeeblement
• debilitation
• injury
• asthenia
• decay
• frailness
• listlessness
• softness
• wimpiness
• disablement
• decrepitude
• breakdown
• damage
• impotence
• helplessness
• prostration
• powerlessness
• weariness
• collapse
• lassitude
• harm
• invalidism
• defenselessness
• hurt
• incapacitation
• impuissance
• effeteness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• strength
• vigor
• robustness
• hardiness
• vitality
• hardihood
• energy
• virility
• toughness
• fitness
• muscularity
• hardness
• huskiness
• ruggedness
• sturdiness
• health
• stoutness
• lustiness
• soundness
• healthiness
• wellness
• heftiness
• brawniness

6

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

• sensitivity
• sensitiveness
• perceptiveness
• accuracy
• acuity
• perceptivity
• acuteness
• sharpness
• keenness
• exactness
• hypersensitivity
• exactitude
• hypersensitiveness
• supersensitivity
• oversensitivity
• fineness
• oversensitiveness
• hyperacuity

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of delicacy

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

Food Souvlaki and spanakopita aren’t the only delicacies Greece is famed for. — Jennifer Tzeses, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Sep. 2026