fuss 1 of 2

Definition of fussnext
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fuss

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verb

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as in to rave
to make an exaggerated display of affection or enthusiasm fans fussing over their favorite rock guitarist

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to quibble
to make often peevish criticisms or objections about matters that are minor, unimportant, or irrelevant the picky eater who fusses over the arrangement of food on his plate or who won't eat the rice if it touches the salad

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in to worry
to experience concern or anxiety there is no use in fussing over things that you can't control

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of fuss
Noun
Yannick Nézét-Séguin let the prelude speak with minimal fuss, then unspooled the rest of the score with total control, pulling the thread taut, relaxing it, and increasing the tension again, until by the end the orchestra bloomed into rapture. Justin Davidson, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2026 Salmon is an increasingly popular fish that’s easy to prepare at home with minimal fuss. Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
Jurgensen, Hall of Fame linebacker Sam Huff and play-by-play man Frank Herzog would fuss and laugh while both rooting for and criticizing the burgundy and gold. Barry Wilner, Baltimore Sun, 6 Feb. 2026 Emma looked around, confused at the adults fussing around him and too young, perhaps, to grasp the severity of the scene. Maeva Bambuck, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fuss
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fuss
Noun
  • The court's objection was first reported by the New York Times.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Tommy Medina waived about 2 1/2 years of custody credits as part of a plea deal offer from Orange County Superior Court Judge Larry Yellin, which drew an objection from prosecutors.
    City News Service, Oc Register, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Among agonized grunts and huffs, Probst narrated the fumbles.
    Sarah Grant, New Yorker, 2 Feb. 2026
  • David walks out of the kitchen and Moira huffs and takes his spot over the pot.
    Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • This decision to stop progress on Be Fri came in late 2023, months after Toy Story prequel movie Lightyear was a box office misfire in light of right-wing pundits causing commotion over its same-gender kiss.
    Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2026
  • The high-gloss finish of each nail also deserves some commotion.
    Emily Kelleher, InStyle, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Both motors stay at or below 45 dBA even at full power, something that will genuinely surprise anyone used to the whine of current-generation motors.
    Omar Kardoudi April 10, New Atlas, 10 Apr. 2026
  • The whine from that straight-cut gearbox alone is painfully loud, say nothing of the wide-open exhaust on the 4.0 L flat-six.
    Tim Stevens, ArsTechnica, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • For years, critics of San Diego’s and California’s approaches have complained that millions and billions, respectively, have been spent to reduce homelessness, yet things just kept getting worse.
    Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026
  • According to state records, the Board of Pharmacy had referred the matter to the Board of Medicine after a patient of Hartsuch’s complained that his pharmacist refused to fill the physician’s prescription for ivermectin in the treatment of COVID-19.
    Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Scouts raved about his fastball — which sat 92-94 mph at the time — and his improving curveball and changeup combination.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Those are just a few of the questions that audience members are ranting and raving their way through while exiting the Hayes Theater.
    Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • While facelift surgeons quibble over semantics and what truly distinguishes one method from another, ultimately, all modern facelifts adjust the SMAS (muscle layer) in some way.
    Jolene Edgar, Allure, 16 Mar. 2026
  • During a debate Tuesday, some lawmakers quibbled over whether the bill would infringe on the free market.
    Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • These plants contain cardiac glycosides, which can cause unpleasant symptoms for dogs and cats alike, such as drooling, diarrhea, abdominal pain, abnormal heart rhythm, and even some neurologic signs.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 2026
  • Chewing on the bulbs can cause severe vomiting and diarrhea, profuse drooling and burns to the mouth.
    Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Fuss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fuss. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.

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