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
Calling all low-maintenance Southern women, these aren't your typical fussy bangs.
—
Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2024
Yogurt Parfaits These make ahead yogurt parfaits only look like fussy tea party food.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Apr. 2024
While many parents suspect a cow’s milk allergy when their baby is excessively fussy or gassy, in reality, only about 2-3% of infants have a milk protein allergy,11 and most outgrow it by the age of seven.
—Lainey Younkin, Ms, Rd, Parents, 15 Mar. 2024
But just what makes Io, named after a mortal woman in love with Zeus in Greek mythology, so fussy?
—Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 7 Mar. 2024
But Picasso’s pictures from 1906 can make those others look fussy and calculated.
—Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 10 Jan. 2024
Chris recruits Shilpa to brainstorm recipes for simple baking projects that are delicious without being too fussy, in order to build the confidence that Nina craves.
—The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 28 Mar. 2024
End of carousel Simu Liu Its asymmetrical hem could look avant-garde, but could also look fussy.
—Rachel Tashjian, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024
Victoria Monét’s two-year-old daughter was fussy on the red carpet, cutely interrupting interviews and looking thoroughly disgruntled during photo ops.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2024
Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2024
Yogurt Parfaits These make ahead yogurt parfaits only look like fussy tea party food.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Apr. 2024
While many parents suspect a cow’s milk allergy when their baby is excessively fussy or gassy, in reality, only about 2-3% of infants have a milk protein allergy,11 and most outgrow it by the age of seven.
—Lainey Younkin, Ms, Rd, Parents, 15 Mar. 2024
But just what makes Io, named after a mortal woman in love with Zeus in Greek mythology, so fussy?
—Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 7 Mar. 2024
But Picasso’s pictures from 1906 can make those others look fussy and calculated.
—Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 10 Jan. 2024
Chris recruits Shilpa to brainstorm recipes for simple baking projects that are delicious without being too fussy, in order to build the confidence that Nina craves.
—The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 28 Mar. 2024
End of carousel Simu Liu Its asymmetrical hem could look avant-garde, but could also look fussy.
—Rachel Tashjian, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024
Victoria Monét’s two-year-old daughter was fussy on the red carpet, cutely interrupting interviews and looking thoroughly disgruntled during photo ops.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2024
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 19 Apr. 2024.
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
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