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 niceties : fastidious, picky

fussily

ˈfə-sə-lē 

adverb

fussiness

ˈfə-sē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• 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

Instead, those ambitions have been stifled—partly because the university is a fussy place and partly because Harold is just too weird to fit in. —Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025

This might seem fussy, but no one likes watery pimiento cheese. —Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2025

Boxing makes for a hell of a cinematic watch, quick and easy to follow, winners obvious, losers clear, plenty of blood to spill, and Michôd doesn’t get fussy with his fight scenes. —Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025

Consisting of a pitcher and a mesh filter, the Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Maker is a great choice for those who are new to making cold brew at home and aren’t fussy about their coffee. —Mark Marino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Aug. 2025

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