as in particular
hard to please
an old-maidish teacher who required that every essay be written in very formal English
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for old-maidish
Adjective
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Evrima's spa is a must-do thanks to its sprawling relaxation deck perfect for a post-treatment nap or hot tub soak with a fresh juice or champagne in hand—all while the picturesque shoreline goes by (Monaco was in view on my particular visit to the spa deck).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Apr. 2026 -
But one comment in particular stuck out to her.—
Mikayla Bunnell,
Hartford Courant,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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So borrowing those things on Buy Nothing is really nice.—
Dania Maxwell,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
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Both Guerrero and Offerman were full of nice things to say about Kidman, who had just one day to shoot her wrestling scene and the previous day to rehearse it, for which Guerrero flew to Nashville to train with Kidman in a boxing gym alongside her stunt double, former wrestler Danielle Moinet.—
Scarlett Harris,
IndieWire,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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This requires careful monitoring of key parameters such as sugar and acidity from veraison through to harvest.—
Maureen Mackey , Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
11 Apr. 2026
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Somewhere within him is the spirit of the patriotic teenager and the careful lower-court judge who rejected any notion of party loyalty or judicial agenda.—
Peter S. Canellos,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The women farmers say that the demanding nature of the work in the chile pepper fields discourages men.—
Suzanne Nuyen,
NPR,
20 Apr. 2026
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What follows this war will be narrower, harder, and more demanding.—
Nawaf M. Al-Thani,
semafor.com,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Laura Ashley’s lightweight quilts are a favorite among shoppers for their dainty patterns and breathable cotton fabric.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Apr. 2026
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Clover’s dainty white flowers also attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to their nectar and pollen, and different clover varieties attract different pollinator species.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Cookware made with copper is thus known for its even heating and responsiveness to changes in temperature, capable of accommodating subtle adjustments for finicky things like sauces and custards.—
Wilder Davies,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
13 Apr. 2026
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This is especially true for finicky houseplants like fiddle leaf figs and crotons, which are known to suddenly lose their leaves after being moved to a new place or receiving a sudden change in care.—
Alexandra Jones,
The Spruce,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Some of the drop-off locations were strikingly similar—luxury apartment buildings whose vast lobbies were tributes to beige and camel, each housing a blocky reception desk manned by a burly fellow with a fastidious beard.—
Henry Alford,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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The Prince and Princess of Wales are fastidious about dropping off and picking up their kids from school, even with their busy royal schedules and a nanny.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The moral complexities of the story – based on true events – are particularly well underlined by the exacting visual style and strong performances.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
8 Apr. 2026
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Loznitsa’s methods are grim and exacting, but the effect is never monotonous; there are shivers of Hitchcockian suspense, plus a whispery cackle of satire that veers toward the Kafkaesque.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Old-maidish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/old-maidish. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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