fussier; fussiest
Synonyms of fussynext
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 adverb
fussiness noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Lots of fussy bow-tie types yammering about Renoir. Peter Bogdanovich, IndieWire, 13 May 2026 There’s a slight awkwardness to the film’s invitation, a fussy kind of table setting that offers some trite (though, not inaccurate) Hollywood satire to ease us toward what the movie is really about. Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026 While Calvin Klein normally does away with fussy embellishments and patterns, stripes remain the only exception, thanks to their resort casual look that instantly elevates an outfit while keeping it understated. Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2026 The production is a revival of the disappointingly fussy, clumsy, old-fashioned one by Lee Blakeley the company unveiled in 2013 for Conlon and to celebrate the Verdi bicentennial. Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fussy

Word History

First Known Use

1831, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Time Traveler
The first known use of fussy was in 1831

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Cite this Entry

“Fussy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fussy. Accessed 14 May. 2026.

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
fussily adverb
fussiness noun

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