1
a
: needless bustle or excitement
They got down to business without any fuss.
b
: a show of flattering attention
made a big fuss over his favorite niece
2
a
: a state of agitation especially over a trivial matter
… in a fuss and stew all afternoon.—
Molly L. Bar-David
Molly L. Bar-David
c
: an often petty controversy or quarrel
… the fuss they are raising … over certain words and phrases.—B. J. Hendricks
B. J. Hendricks
fussed; fussing; fusses
1
a
: to create or be in a state of restless activity
especially
: to shower flattering attentions
fussing over the grandchildren
b
: to pay close or undue attention to small details
fussed with the table setting
fusser
noun
Examples of fuss in a Sentence
Noun
They got down to business without any fuss.
What is all the fuss about?
Her new novel has caused quite a fuss.
I don't want to make a fuss, but this soup is cold.
Verb
She'll fuss the whole time we're gone.
I told him not to fuss.
The baby fussed all day.
Stop fussing and get to work!
He's fussing about his new assignment.
Recent Examples on the Web
Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Oct. 2025
Oversized, statement-making tops that don’t need a lot of fuss, leather jackets, and some autumnal classics, like button-up shirts and turtleneck dresses, have become my go-tos.
—Minty Mellon, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2025
Jeff Burkhart, Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2025
By re-creating the relevant latent representations, and not the missing pixels of earlier systems, the model learns to see the cars on the road and not fuss about the leaves on the trees.
—Quanta Magazine, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fuss
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Noun
Serve it for a holiday feast or any dinner that deserves to feel a little fancy without the fuss.
—Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Oct. 2025
Oversized, statement-making tops that don’t need a lot of fuss, leather jackets, and some autumnal classics, like button-up shirts and turtleneck dresses, have become my go-tos.
—Minty Mellon, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
But practically speaking, this vodka mixes easily and well without having to fuss too much.
—Jeff Burkhart, Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2025
By re-creating the relevant latent representations, and not the missing pixels of earlier systems, the model learns to see the cars on the road and not fuss about the leaves on the trees.
—Quanta Magazine, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fuss
Cite this Entry
“Fuss.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fuss. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fuss
1 of 2 noun1
: unnecessary activity or excitement often over something unimportant
2
3
: a great show of interest
made a fuss over the baby
fuss
2 of 2 verb
: to make a fuss
fusser
noun
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