fussy

1 of 2

adjective

ˈfə-sē 

fussier; fussiest

1

: easily upset : irritable

2

: overly decorative

a fussy wallpaper pattern

3

a

: requiring or giving close attention to details

fussy bookkeeping procedures

b

: revealing a sometimes extreme concern for details : fastidious, picky

a fussy man who was hard to please

fussily

ˈfə-sə-lē 

adverb

fussiness

ˈfə-sē-nəs 

noun

fussiness

2 of 2

noun

fuss·​i·​ness -sēnə̇s 

-sin-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being fussy

Synonyms of fussy

Adjective

• restless
• irritable
• nervous
• grumpy
• displeased
• grouchy
• querulous
• crabby
• cranky
• dissatisfied

Examples of fussy in a Sentence

Adjective

I'm not fussy about where we eat.

The room was cluttered and fussy.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

This morning, Oprah attended the annual Cannes LionHeart Seminar in an all-white look that felt effortlessly cool; it was elevated without being fussy. — Kaelin Dodge, InStyle, 23 June 2026

Both details and plants felt generic, overly fussy, and undifferentiated rather than intentional and cohesive. — Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2026

Raphanus sativus isn't particularly fussy about soil, either. — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 21 June 2026

Swift was shown spoon-feeding him, tongue in cheek, like a fussy baby in a restaurant. — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 20 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1831, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Rhymes for fussy

• bussy
• disci
• hussy
• prosy

Kids Definition

fussy

adjective

ˈfəs-ē 

fussier; fussiest

1

: inclined to complain or whine

a fussy child

2

a

: needing or giving much attention to details

a fussy job

b

: hard to please

fussy about food

fussily

ˈfəs-ə-lē 

adverb

fussiness

ˈfəs-ē-nəs 

noun