fussy

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

Synonyms of fussy

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

Examples of fussy in a Sentence

I'm not fussy about where we eat.

The room was cluttered and fussy.

Recent Examples on the Web

But that album struck me as fussy, unfinished, soft somehow. —Dan Kois, Pitchfork, 17 May 2026

Savory isn’t fussy and grows easily with full sun, regular water, and well-draining soil. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 May 2026

Your outdoor eating area doesn’t have to be a fussy affair with a matching table set. —Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 17 May 2026

The family cat has been missing for week, compounding the agony of losing her 7-year-old son Kakeru in a freak accident two years before, but Otone puts it to one side and continues with her latest project, designing a bespoke home for a fussy married couple. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 16 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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