anal

[eyn-l] / ˈeɪn l /

ADJECTIVE

excessively orderly

Synonyms

STRONGEST

fussy persnickety picky

STRONG

fastidious nitpicking

WEAK

meticulous particular stickling

Antonyms

STRONGEST

messy nonchalant

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Bowel or anal incontinence - when you cannot control when you poo - affects 20% of women and is most commonly caused by a birth injury, according to the British Journal of General Practice.

From BBC • May 13, 2026

Unmarried men had five times the rate of anal cancer; unmarried women experienced three times the rate of cervical cancer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

I’m going to be like a really anal New York Times reporter.

From Slate • Feb. 4, 2026

I’m kind of anal about how I choose the colors and how I highlight everything.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 14, 2025

I drew a dorsal fin on top and an anal fin on the bottom, to prevent the shark from rolling side to side when it was moving forward.

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen