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

To finish, warm caramel butter cake brings the richness and buttery depth, and chocolate flan the delicacy. — Connie Ogle july 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026

Shrimp is a staple for any family gathering, West Indies Salad is a delicacy, and no pantry is complete without Old Bay seasoning. — Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 31 July 2026

The nearby Rotha patisserie also draws long lines for its exceptional baked goods, including pastéis de nata, a Portuguese delicacy not easy to find in the East Bay. — Barbara Noe Kennedy, Travel + Leisure, 28 July 2026

But when Kore-eda’s execution isn’t as assured, as is the case with his latest, all that delicacy simply floats off into the ether, rarely amounting to much more than a halfhearted shrug. — Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026