1
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Laced with delicacies of the season including artichokes, fava beans and asparagus, combinations are sometimes predictable, like Risotto with Spring Herbs or Artichoke Risotto with Lemon Zest.
—
Carolynn Carreño, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
The design looks sleek on any countertop; the colors are pleasantly neutral; and the output is heavenly, producing the smoothest of smoothies but also so much else—purées that give whatever delicacy Alison Roman is feeding her baby a run for its money; silky soups and sauces; the list goes on.
—Air Mail, 9 May 2026
Spiny lobster, which do not have claws like their Maine relatives, are considered a delicacy regionally and as far away as Asia, where much of the local catch is shipped.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 7 May 2026
Against the backdrop of prison watchtowers and barbed wire, the day in Joliet featured three hours’ worth of pregame festivities, including 15 food trucks serving delicacies as quintessential as hot dogs and as unique as gourmet pasta in garlic bread cones.
—Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for delicacy
Carolynn Carreño, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
The design looks sleek on any countertop; the colors are pleasantly neutral; and the output is heavenly, producing the smoothest of smoothies but also so much else—purées that give whatever delicacy Alison Roman is feeding her baby a run for its money; silky soups and sauces; the list goes on.
—Air Mail, 9 May 2026
Spiny lobster, which do not have claws like their Maine relatives, are considered a delicacy regionally and as far away as Asia, where much of the local catch is shipped.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 7 May 2026
Against the backdrop of prison watchtowers and barbed wire, the day in Joliet featured three hours’ worth of pregame festivities, including 15 food trucks serving delicacies as quintessential as hot dogs and as unique as gourmet pasta in garlic bread cones.
—Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for delicacy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delicacy
Noun
-
And what a treat to witness Bryan Cranston return as ‘Malcolm in the Middle’s’ hapless dad.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 May 2026
-
The first treat Arocho bought himself was a king-size bed.—
Sandra Gonzalez,
CNN Money,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
Down the hall, ceramic eggs cover the walls while a giant yolk rests atop a mattress, turning a hospital bed into a commentary on fragility and birth.—
Jane Horowitz,
Los Angeles Times,
20 May 2026
-
The new Gen-2 hand, named Flex 2, combines multiple actuation technologies in a hybrid drive system, enabling it to handle objects with different shapes, textures, and levels of fragility more effectively.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
With a daintiness at odds with its 120 kilos, the bear extricates its wrist from the tie and calmly takes its leave.—
Ganesh Marín,
The Dial,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Maybe more importantly, he was considered one of the most NFL-ready receivers in this class, which gives him a better chance to contribute early with a QB who expects precision and professionalism.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
Your calm precision can keep the whole plan from wobbling.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Rippling was also built with a stronger emphasis on operational infrastructure and compliance, according to Conrad, who has said that one of the weaknesses at Zenefits was that a lot was done manually behind the scenes.—
Ellen Sheng,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
-
Brunson’s defense and the lack of rim protection from Towns remain weaknesses, but nobody has come close to exploiting them so far.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Niki suffers from ultra-sensitivity to noise, also known as hyperacusis, which derailed his career in music.—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
-
Antioxidants like green tea and ferulic acid neutralize oxidative stress (which can lead to sensitivity), while ectoin acts more like a bodyguard for your skin cells, protecting them from environmental stress.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
22 May 2026
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
Noun
-
Off a hunch, Mollick ran the story through Pangram, a program that detects AI writing with 99% accuracy.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
-
Using hardware mounted to the ceilings of brick-and-mortar stores, Radar’s technology can read any radio-frequency identification, or RFID, tag with 99% accuracy, the company said.—
Gabrielle Fonrouge,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Delicacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delicacy. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
