delicacy

noun

ˈde-li-kə-sē How to pronounce delicacy (audio)
Definition of delicacynext
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

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2
as in fragility
the state or quality of having a delicate structure we never cease to marvel at the delicacy of a snowflake

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in precision
the quality or state of being very accurate the delicacy of the watch movement is incredible

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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

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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

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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 The animals were killed for their hides and their tongues, a culinary delicacy, but also as part of the campaign to ethnically cleanse Native Americans from the land. — Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 20 July 2026 There’s a desperation in his voice, a weariness that evokes bad nights’ sleep and endless doomscrolling, but there’s also a delicacy to his performance, a gentleness that has precedent in his catalog but still feels new. — Stephen M. Deusner, Pitchfork, 17 July 2026 For the past 115 years, Gaido’s has been cooking up these coastal delicacies. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 15 July 2026 San Jose has a new brunch restaurant, Bloom, serving up chicken and waffles, croissant French toast and carnitas Benedict, among other savory and sweet breakfast and lunch delicacies. — Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for delicacy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delicacy
  1. treat
  2. fragility
  3. daintiness
  4. precision
  5. weakness
  6. sensitivity
  7. fineness
  8. fastidiousness
Noun
  • For dessert, the tiramisu is a never-miss classic and the pistacchio mille feuille de (only available for dinner) was a really fun, flavorful treat.
    — Connie Ogle July 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
  • Afternoon lemonade and homemade treats are laid out for guests to nibble on before dinner.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 July 2026
Definition of treat
Noun
  • Visitors can expect large-scale immersive installations, architectural interventions and works that challenge perception, but also a broader reflection on memory, instability, time and the fragility of reality itself.
    — Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
  • Chemistry inside battery Solid-state batteries are widely considered the future of safe, high-capacity energy storage, yet the development is limited by the chemical fragility of their most promising components.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 17 July 2026
Definition of fragility
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
Definition of daintiness
Noun
  • The lipstick can be applied directly to lips with the bullet’s precision tip, or with a lip brush for greater control.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026
  • With aspirations of becoming the league’s highest-scoring offense, Johnson and the Bears are adopting a micro-focus on situational precision.
    — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of precision
Noun
  • Unlike standard hearing and vision tests, these assessments examine how the brain interprets what the child hears and sees and may help identify underlying weaknesses contributing to behaviors associated with ADHD or autism.
    — Jillian Pretzel, Parents, 25 July 2026
  • Symptoms can include arm or leg pain, numbness, weakness and tingling, and Mayo Clinic advises calling a doctor if pain in the neck or back spreads to an arm or leg.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 25 July 2026
Definition of weakness
Noun
  • But there are properties around the world that go above and beyond to host guests with celiac disease and other gluten sensitivities.
    — Elliott Harrell, Travel + Leisure, 27 July 2026
  • The group’s sensitivity to the negative headlines underscores some of the challenges facing tech stocks, as Jim Cramer discussed in his Sunday column.
    — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 27 July 2026
Definition of sensitivity
Noun
  • My matzo balls took twice as long to cook according to her fineness in the video.
    — Molly Baz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Mar. 2026
  • The term plant texture refers to the fineness or coarseness, roughness or smoothness, heaviness or lightness of a particular plant.
    — David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 15 Feb. 2026
Definition of fineness
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
Definition of fastidiousness

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delicacies
delicacy
delicate
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Cite this Entry

“Delicacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delicacy. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of delicacy for Spanish Speakers

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