nicety
6 synonyms and 2 antonyms for nicety, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A small, precise detail or difference.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A small, precise detail or difference.
“We met the new captain while we were taking enemy fire and were unable to observe the niceties of formal introductions.”
2. noun
Exactness or precision in how something is used.
“A rocket-propelled grenade doesn't have the nicety of a sniper round, but you must admit its effectiveness.”
Opposites
3. noun
A very refined and particular way of feeling or behaving; fussiness about details.
Opposites
Etymology
Nicety came into English as Middle English nicetee, which developed from Old French niceté (“simpleness, foolishness”), itself from nice (“simple, foolish”); it can be broken down as nice + -e- + -ty.
Full origin of nicety →