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
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
The piece is an antique that wasn't fashionable for many decades, but many jewels once considered fussy or unstylish have now been embraced again.
—
Stephanie Petit, Peoplemag, 21 Nov. 2023
The spare interiors, with polished concrete floors and opaque glass, are scrupulously free of fussy moldings and extraneous detailing.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 18 Nov. 2023
Here boxwood's dense body balances well with other decorations surrounding a mantle piece while the staircase garland showcases a clean, classic look without looking overdone or fussy.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 12 Nov. 2023
An overly sleepy or fussy baby could be sick, while one that seems constantly hungry could be trying harder to feed themselves due to incorrectly sized nipples on their bottles or a low milk supply.
—Elizabeth Florio, Parents, 24 Oct. 2023
Fine: commands like those are notoriously fussy, and everybody looks them up anyway.
—James Somers, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023
The style looks tailored and put together without being fussy and is inviting yet serviceable for everyday living.
—Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Oct. 2023
The designer played with the cream and gray floor tiles in different patterns, settling on a double diamond design that adds interest underfoot without feeling fussy.
—Marni Elyse Katz, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Aug. 2023
The movie wastes time on setting up a few minor points of the followers’ personalities (the nurse wants a man in her life, the students are in a romantic relationship, the clerk is tired of his fussy boss) rather than probing the psychology of a mass movement with strong political overtones.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 12 Sep. 2023
See More
Stephanie Petit, Peoplemag, 21 Nov. 2023
The spare interiors, with polished concrete floors and opaque glass, are scrupulously free of fussy moldings and extraneous detailing.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 18 Nov. 2023
Here boxwood's dense body balances well with other decorations surrounding a mantle piece while the staircase garland showcases a clean, classic look without looking overdone or fussy.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 12 Nov. 2023
An overly sleepy or fussy baby could be sick, while one that seems constantly hungry could be trying harder to feed themselves due to incorrectly sized nipples on their bottles or a low milk supply.
—Elizabeth Florio, Parents, 24 Oct. 2023
Fine: commands like those are notoriously fussy, and everybody looks them up anyway.
—James Somers, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023
The style looks tailored and put together without being fussy and is inviting yet serviceable for everyday living.
—Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Oct. 2023
The designer played with the cream and gray floor tiles in different patterns, settling on a double diamond design that adds interest underfoot without feeling fussy.
—Marni Elyse Katz, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Aug. 2023
The movie wastes time on setting up a few minor points of the followers’ personalities (the nurse wants a man in her life, the students are in a romantic relationship, the clerk is tired of his fussy boss) rather than probing the psychology of a mass movement with strong political overtones.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 12 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fussy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1831, in the meaning defined at sense 3a
Dictionary Entries Near fussy
Cite this Entry
“Fussy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fussy. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
fussy
adjective
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
More from Merriam-Webster on fussy
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share