Excessively orderly, informally (4 letters)

{ Answer }

ANAL

{ Related Clues }

___-retentive
Chem. assay
Chem. process
Fastidious to a fault
Similarity: Abbr.
Uptight, informally
Like a control freak
Psychological work: Abbr.
Thorough study: Abbr.

{ Tags }

abbr, anal, assay, chem, control, excessively, fastidious, fault, freak, informally, like, orderly, process, psychological, retentive, similarity, study, thorough, uptight, work

{ Notes }

The answer ANAL is rarely seen, appearing only about once every 1300 puzzles.

{ Definition }

ANAL as an adjective:

1. of or related to the anus; "anal thermometer"

2. (anal, anal retentive) = a stage in psychosexual development when the child's interest is concentrated on the anal region; fixation at this stage is said to result in orderliness, meanness, stubbornness, compulsiveness, etc.