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

For the no nonsense, a low-maintenance cut like a sharp collarbone lob or a style with no fussy layers frees up your time and hands to plot world domination. — Loren Savini, Allure, 14 Oct. 2026

Celebrity hairstylist Brian Magallones considers this the perfect balance between a not-too-fussy and not-too-structured chignon, a style that sounds tough to style without a professional team but is actually quite easy to master at-home. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026

Hence, Lister sees a Liverpudlian woman, Rimmer encounters a fussy hologram, and the narcissistic Cat gets to date, well, himself. — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2026

To offer something truly unique, the spa looked to Biologique Recherche, for a robust menu of prestigious products that are sophisticated but never fussy—an approach that fits well with Le Carl’s overall vibe. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 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