fuss

fuss

verb

Definition of FUSS

1

to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <the eldest daughter is always fussing that she gets stuck with all the chores around the house>

Synonyms beef, bellyache, bitch, bleat, carp, caterwaul, crab, croak, fuss, gripe, grizzle, grouch, grouse, growl, grumble, grump, holler, inveigh, keen, kick, kvetch, maunder [chiefly British], moan, murmur, mutter, nag, repine, scream, squawk, squeal, wail, whimper, whine, whinge [British], yammer, yawp (or yaup), yowl

Related Words object (to), protest, quarrel (with); cavil, quibble; fret, stew, worry; blubber, cry, sob; bemoan, bewail, deplore, lament

Near Antonyms accept, bear, countenance, endure, take, tolerate; applaud, cheer, commend

Antonyms crow, delight, rejoice

2

to make an exaggerated display of affection or enthusiasm <fans fussing over their favorite rock guitarist>

Synonyms drool, effuse, enthuse, fuss, rave, rhapsodize, slobber

Related Words dote (on), fawn; emote

3

to make often peevish criticisms or objections about matters that are minor, unimportant, or irrelevant <the picky eater who fusses over the arrangement of food on his plate or who won't eat the rice if it touches the salad>

Synonyms carp, cavil, fuss, niggle, nitpick

Related Words criticize, fault; beef, bellyache, bitch, complain, crab, croak, gripe, grouse, growl, grumble, kick, kvetch, moan, squawk, squeal, wail, whimper, whine, yammer, yawp (or yaup), yowl; murmur, mutter

Near Antonyms applaud, commend, compliment, praise, recommend; approve, back, champion, endorse (also indorse), support

4

to use flattery or the doing of favors in order to win approval especially from a superior <given to fussing over her father whenever she wants a favor or some ready cash>

Synonyms apple-polish, bootlick, fuss, kowtow, suck (up), toady, truckle

Related Words drool, gush, slaver, slobber; endear, ingratiate; court, woo; adulate, idolize, worship; blandish, cajole, coax, flatter, overpraise, soft-soap; cower, cringe, grovel; abase, debase, demean; defer, submit, yield

Near Antonyms despise, disdain, scorn; gibe (or jibe), jeer, scoff; brave, challenge, defy

5

to experience concern or anxiety <there is no use in fussing over things that you can't control>

Synonyms bother, fear, fret, fuss, stew, stress, sweat, trouble

Related Words agonize; long, pine, yearn; chafe; despair

Near Antonyms accept; abide, bear, endure, stick out, stomach, sustain, take, tolerate

6

to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy <you shouldn't let a little thing like that fuss you>

Synonyms agitate, ail, alarm (also alarum), bother, concern, derail, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distemper, distract, distress, exercise, flurry, frazzle, freak (out), fuss, hagride, perturb, undo, unhinge, unsettle, upset, weird out, worry

Related Words aggravate, anger, annoy, bug, chafe, chivy (or chivvy), exasperate, fret, gall, get, grate, harass, harry, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, pester, pique, put off, put out, rile, vex; bedevil, haunt, plague; abash, confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, jar, mortify, nonplus, rattle, shake up; daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit, unnerve

Near Antonyms allay, alleviate, assuage; appease, conciliate, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate

Antonyms calm, compose, quiet, settle, soothe, tranquilize (also tranquillize)