anal

In a medical context, the word is purely descriptive and clinical, lacking any emotional weight or judgment. In a colloquial context, it describes a personality trait characterized by an obsessive need for order, cleanliness, or precision. It carries a negative connotation of being rigid, inflexible, or 'difficult' to please due to extreme fussiness. Unlike 'meticulous' (which is often a compliment) or 'precise' (which is neutral), 'anal' suggests that the attention to detail has become pathological or annoying to others. It implies a lack of perspective regarding what actually matters.