as in complaining
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Dissimilar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in drooling
to make an exaggerated display of affection or enthusiasm
fans fussing over their favorite rock guitarist
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in worrying
to experience concern or anxiety
there is no use in fussing over things that you can't control
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fussing
Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
Your son is fussing in his car seat.
—Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 12 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
As the migrants boarded, a man hoisted one of the passengers in the air, a fussing 8-month-old baby whose face was flushed red from the heat.
—Daniel Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 6 Nov. 2025
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
Verb
Ever the dedicated mother, Stacy runs to her adult daughter’s aid, fussing at her for not using a driver for her errands.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
Your son is fussing in his car seat.
—Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 12 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
As the migrants boarded, a man hoisted one of the passengers in the air, a fussing 8-month-old baby whose face was flushed red from the heat.
—Daniel Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 6 Nov. 2025
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
Adjective
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An energy vampire has bad body language, the complaining look on their face, the vocal complainer.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Authorities say Valdez had multiple untreated mental health disorders, including schizophrenia, and that he had been seen in Concord earlier in the day screaming at cars.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
29 Mar. 2026
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Williams was celebrating an offensive foul called against Doncic by gleefully screaming in Doncic's personal space.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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One minute later, Pedro Neto was yellow-carded for moaning.—
Matt Slater,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
While lying on the pavement, he could be heard moaning as an officer shouted at him not to move.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
13 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Infantino’s gesture might strike people unacquainted with World Cup history as shamelessly fawning.—
Ian Buruma,
New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2026
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With the Republican Congress fawning at his feet, the ideal of democracy that the will of the people governs the nation is being buried under multimedia waves of the autocratic ambition of wealth.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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How can other young women and girls who wants to be creators online push through that embarrassment and stop worrying about what other people are thinking?—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
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But the start of the war in Iran has many European leaders worrying about a deeper break within NATO.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Why are two players whose college careers, at the moment, are over bothering to put their names out there for other programs to see?—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
31 Mar. 2026
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Throughout the day, jot down any worries that are bothering you, particularly the ones that keep popping up.—
Andee Tagle,
NPR,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The death toll includes at least 19 children, 21 non-protesting civilians, and 165 in government or security forces.—
The Hill,
The Hill,
17 Jan. 2026
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Among the dead were 13 children and 14 non-protesting civilians, HRANA said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fussing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fussing. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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