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

It’s packed with hyaluronic acid to instantly plump and hydrate your complexion without a fussy application process. — Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 5 Aug. 2026

She’s known to take any fussy baby and calm them down immediately. — Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 5 Aug. 2026

With only one bite, these non-fussy treats will bring back memories in Grandma’s kitchen. — Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2026

No-Fail Chocolate Frosting This smooth, creamy, chocolate frosting is easy to make, with none of the potential pitfalls of fussy European buttercreams. — Carolynn Carreño, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 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