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 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.
Instead of all the pomp and circumstance, chef Mario Valles is now turning out a French-Mediterranean menu that’s elegant and luxurious (morels, foie gras) without being fussy. Ann Abel, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025 Eliana's current favorite read is Birds of New Zealand, but Rad said that her daughter is not fussy, exploring everything from poetry to novels. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025 Creating white noise is a great way to lull a fussy baby to sleep. Nora Colomer, Fox News, 20 Feb. 2025 One of the most important style updates the authors mention is ditching carpets and fussy window treatments; instead, rugs soften the look and feel of flooring, while forgoing swaths of window fabrics provides a cleaner and less formal appearance. Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2025 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 1 May. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on fussy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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