delicacy
noun
del·i·ca·cy ˈde-li-kə-sē 
plural delicacies
1
: something pleasing to eat that is considered rare or luxurious
considered caviar a delicacy
2
a
: the quality or state of being dainty (see dainty entry 2 sense 2) : fineness
lace of great delicacy
the delicacy of a spider web
b
: frailty sense 1
the delicacy of his health
3
: fineness or subtle expressiveness of touch (as in painting or music)
4
a
: refined sensibility in feeling or conduct
handled the difficult situation with delicacy
b
: the quality or state of being squeamish
Hunger knows no delicacy.
5
: the quality or state of requiring delicate (see delicate entry 1 sense 4b) handling
the delicacy of the tense negotiations
6
a
: precise and refined perception and discrimination
the delicacy of his taste in art
b
: extreme sensitivity : precision
an electronic instrument of great delicacy
7
obsolete
a
: the quality or state of being luxurious
b
: indulgence
Synonyms
- bit
- cate [archaic]
- dainty
- delectable
- goody
- goodie
- kickshaw
- tidbit
- titbit
- treat
- viand
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The restaurant serves delicious sausages and other regional delicacies. the delicacy of the glassware The curtains were made from fine lace of great delicacy. a musician known for the delicacy of her compositions the delicacy of the young boy's features the delicacy of the perfume the delicacy of the wine's flavor Because of the delicacy of the situation, we needed to speak privately. See More
Recent Examples on the Web Dipping and scooping your way across a table covered with saucy plates is by far the best way to experience the gutsiness and delicacy of Chanchaleune’s vision. 
The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 8 Sep. 2022 While some fish of this species are edible when handled correctly — like fugu, a delicacy in Japan — this one is not. Sarah Dadouch, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2022 Seafood isn’t to everyone’s liking even if it’s a delicacy often enjoyed during summer vacations. Zach Wade, CNN, 2 Sep. 2022 The blossoms also are considered a delicacy steamed or fried. Arricca Elin Sansone, House Beautiful, 23 Aug. 2022 While waking up to the smell of homemade cinnamon rolls is the ultimate Saturday morning delicacy, not everyone has the time (or energy) to go full-on pastry chef and make them from scratch at 7 a.m. Bryce Jones, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Aug. 2022 With an Interesting western twist, this delicacy is served on a bed of lettuce and vegetables with an ancho chili mayonnaise. The Salt Lake Tribune, 9 Aug. 2022 The platters — about 200 in all — were covered with foil and loaded into a fleet of vans that transported the delicacy to the wedding. New York Times, 26 June 2022 Their sticky eggs — known to most as the delicacy caviar — need a pebbly surface on which to attach, and a lack of sediment washing into the creek means the gravel doesn’t get smothered. Scott Dance, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2022 See More
The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 8 Sep. 2022 While some fish of this species are edible when handled correctly — like fugu, a delicacy in Japan — this one is not. Sarah Dadouch, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2022 Seafood isn’t to everyone’s liking even if it’s a delicacy often enjoyed during summer vacations. Zach Wade, CNN, 2 Sep. 2022 The blossoms also are considered a delicacy steamed or fried. Arricca Elin Sansone, House Beautiful, 23 Aug. 2022 While waking up to the smell of homemade cinnamon rolls is the ultimate Saturday morning delicacy, not everyone has the time (or energy) to go full-on pastry chef and make them from scratch at 7 a.m. Bryce Jones, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Aug. 2022 With an Interesting western twist, this delicacy is served on a bed of lettuce and vegetables with an ancho chili mayonnaise. The Salt Lake Tribune, 9 Aug. 2022 The platters — about 200 in all — were covered with foil and loaded into a fleet of vans that transported the delicacy to the wedding. New York Times, 26 June 2022 Their sticky eggs — known to most as the delicacy caviar — need a pebbly surface on which to attach, and a lack of sediment washing into the creek means the gravel doesn’t get smothered. Scott Dance, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
see delicate entry 1
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 7a
Kids Definition
delicacy
noun
del·i·ca·cy ˈde-li-kə-sē
plural delicacies
1
: something pleasing to eat that is rare or a luxury
2
: fineness of structure She wore lace of great delicacy.
3
: weakness of body : frailty
4
: a need for careful treatment
This is a situation of great delicacy.
5
: consideration for the feelings of others
She had the delicacy to ignore my blunder.
delicacy
noun
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
Relevance
- treat
- dainty
- delectable
- sweet
- candy
- viand
- dessert
- titbit
- goody
- kickshaw
- morsel
- tidbit
- sweetmeat
- cate
- bit
- goodie
- junket
2
as in exquisiteness
the state or quality of having a delicate structure we never cease to marvel at the delicacy of a snowflake Synonyms & Similar Words
- exquisiteness
- fragility
- fineness
- daintiness
- brittleness
- frangibility
- flimsiness
- insubstantiality
- wispiness
- friability
- crumbliness
- diaphanousness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- solidity
- roughness
- coarseness
- firmness
- strength
- rudeness
- crudeness
- crudity
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
- finickiness
- queasiness
- finicalness
- fussiness
- qualmishness
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
- rigor
- truth
- definiteness
- definitiveness
- veracity
- accurateness
- subtlety
- closeness
- rigorousness
- strictness
- ultraprecision
- correctness
- fastidiousness
- rightness
- meticulousness
- carefulness
- determinacy
- definitude
- care
- persnicketiness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- roughness
- approximation
- coarseness
- imprecision
- roundness
- inaccuracy
- inexactness
- inexactitude
- wrongness
- carelessness
- looseness
- impreciseness
- incorrectness
- falsity
- 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
- fragility
- exhaustion
- feebleness
- tenderness
- languor
- fatigue
- debility
- faintness
- enervation
- languidness
- lowness
- impairment
- frailty
- softness
- enfeeblement
- debilitation
- infirmity
- frailness
- asthenia
- injury
- decay
- wimpiness
- listlessness
- decrepitude
- impotence
- helplessness
- disablement
- breakdown
- prostration
- powerlessness
- damage
- weariness
- lassitude
- harm
- collapse
- invalidism
- defenselessness
- hurt
- impuissance
- effeteness
- incapacitation
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- strength
- robustness
- vigor
- hardiness
- vitality
- hardihood
- virility
- energy
- toughness
- muscularity
- sturdiness
- ruggedness
- huskiness
- hardness
- lustiness
- fitness
- health
- stoutness
- soundness
- healthiness
- heftiness
- brawniness
- wellness
6
as in sensitiveness
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
- sensitiveness
- sensitivity
- perceptiveness
- perceptivity
- acuity
- accuracy
- acuteness
- exactness
- exactitude
- sharpness
- keenness
- hypersensitiveness
- hypersensitivity
- fineness
- supersensitivity
- oversensitiveness
- oversensitivity
- hyperacuity