as in complaining
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1
as in screaming
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
the eldest daughter is always fussing that she gets stuck with all the chores around the house
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in drooling
to make an exaggerated display of affection or enthusiasm
fans fussing over their favorite rock guitarist
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3
as in moaning
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
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4
as in fawning
to use flattery or the doing of favors in order to win approval especially from a superior
given to fussing over her father whenever she wants a favor or some ready cash
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5
as in worrying
to experience concern or anxiety
there is no use in fussing over things that you can't control
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6
as in bothering
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
you shouldn't let a little thing like that fuss you
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fussing
Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
This was the mid 1980s and tandem skydiving hadn’t been popularized yet, so his father, Roger, adjusted accordingly by stuffing carpet padding into the leg pads to stop him from fussing.
—Angelina Liu, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Helen bending at her wide waist, fussing again with the shoe, a cream leather high-top, cursing quietly under her breath, hair falling into her face.
—Literary Hub, 23 June 2025
Verb
With five blades sandwiched between two moisturizing bars, this razor speeds up the entire process (no fussing around with shaving cream), nourishing dry skin and making nicks a rare occurrence.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
This was the mid 1980s and tandem skydiving hadn’t been popularized yet, so his father, Roger, adjusted accordingly by stuffing carpet padding into the leg pads to stop him from fussing.
—Angelina Liu, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Helen bending at her wide waist, fussing again with the shoe, a cream leather high-top, cursing quietly under her breath, hair falling into her face.
—Literary Hub, 23 June 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fussing
Verb
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Dani has fallen asleep, though only after complaining vociferously about the light.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
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Lyons said store owners had been complaining about the retail for some time.—
Luke Barr,
ABC News,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CWD can take months to years for symptoms to appear, which could include drastic weight loss, stumbling or lack of coordination, drooling and listlessness.—
Caroline Neal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
30 Oct. 2025
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Naturally, the post attracted over 16,000 comments of women drooling over him.—
Essence,
Essence,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There’s something moaning in the background.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
10 Oct. 2025
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The deputies ultimately roll him over before putting on handcuffs as Mull can be heard moaning in pain.—
Nathaniel Percy,
Oc Register,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Instead of supporting allies in NATO and Ukraine against aggressive Russian territorial expansion, the United States has proposed drastic cuts to defensive military support measures and played fawning host to Vladimir Putin.—
Time,
Time,
28 Oct. 2025
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But there were – among the fawning compliments and the conviction an elusive peace was near – bits of good news for Ukraine.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This year’s National Day box office in October was lower than in 2014, which is worrying.—
Gavin J Blair,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Nov. 2025
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But at some point in the near future, data-center spending will likely outpace even these enormous cash flows, reducing Big Tech’s liquidity and worrying investors.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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If something’s bothering you, say so.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
28 Oct. 2025
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Saft, not bothering to remove his sneakers, leaped onto a chair to place an ornate gold mirror over the mantelpiece.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Agents appear to fight off a screaming crowd trying to help the man by pushing them away and threatening them with pepper spray.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
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There’s nothing like stepping onto the ice with thousands of screaming school children on top of you after an early-morning bus ride to play in an early-morning game to remind you’re in the AHL rather than the NHL.—
Scott Powers,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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When someone is ranting and raving about you, ignore them.—
Megan Cartwright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
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That said, no one was raving about these shakes, either.—
Alaina Chou,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fussing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fussing. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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