Synonyms of fussing

fussing 1 of 2

adjective

as in complaining

Related Words

• complaining
• protesting
• grumbling
• griping
• squawking
• kvetching
• whining
• uncompromising
• impatient
• unforgiving
• unyielding
• intolerant

Dissimilar Words

• patient
• enduring
• abiding
• tolerant
• accepting
• willing
• forgiving
• forbearing
• uncomplaining
• indulgent
• resigned
• long-suffering

fussing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of fuss

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

• complaining
• screaming
• whining
• moaning
• muttering
• worrying
• grumbling
• squawking
• bitching
• whimpering
• yammering
• crying
• kicking
• growling
• hollering
• squealing
• grousing
• murmuring
• nagging
• griping
• wailing
• repining
• beefing
• whinging
• yowling
• grizzling
• grouching
• kvetching
• carping
• inveighing
• keening
• bellyaching
• bleating
• grumping
• caterwauling
• crabbing
• protesting
• yawping
• kicking up a fuss
• sobbing
• croaking
• maundering
• quibbling
• quarreling (with)
• blubbering
• stewing
• fretting
• objecting (to)
• bewailing
• lamenting
• caviling
• bemoaning
• deploring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rejoicing
• taking
• delighting
• accepting
• tolerating
• enduring
• crowing
• bearing
• cheering
• applauding
• commending
• countenancing

2

as in drooling

to make an exaggerated display of affection or enthusiasm

fans fussing over their favorite rock guitarist

Synonyms & Similar Words

• drooling
• raving
• gushing
• slobbering
• rhapsodizing
• effusing
• fawning
• enthusing
• doting (on)
• emoting

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• complaining
• moaning
• whining
• nitpicking
• quibbling
• muttering
• niggling
• carping
• bitching
• splitting hairs
• criticizing
• caviling
• squawking
• grumbling
• squealing
• faulting
• yammering
• wailing
• kicking
• whimpering
• grousing
• griping
• growling
• beefing
• yowling
• murmuring
• kvetching
• bellyaching
• crabbing
• yawping
• croaking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• praising
• recommending
• commending
• applauding
• approving
• supporting
• complimenting
• backing
• endorsing
• championing

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• drooling
• fawning
• kowtowing
• courting
• toadying
• bootlicking
• sucking (up)
• truckling
• submitting
• currying favor
• deferring
• wooing
• coaxing
• cringing
• slobbering
• apple-polishing
• gushing
• cajoling
• kissing up to
• ingratiating
• cowering
• worshipping
• slavering
• endearing
• idolizing
• flattering
• groveling
• yielding
• blandishing
• adulating
• debasing
• demeaning
• overpraising
• abasing
• soft-soaping

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disdaining
• despising
• scorning
• jeering
• scoffing
• challenging
• defying
• braving
• gibing

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

• worrying
• fretting
• fearing
• stressing
• stewing
• troubling
• bothering
• sweating
• giving a hang
• yearning
• pining
• longing
• sweating blood
• agonizing
• despairing
• chafing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• accepting
• taking
• tolerating
• sustaining
• enduring
• sticking out
• bearing
• abiding
• stomaching

6

as in bothering

to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy

you shouldn't let a little thing like that fuss you

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bothering
• worrying
• distracting
• disturbing
• alarming
• concerning
• agitating
• unsettling
• distressing
• angering
• annoying
• upsetting
• plaguing
• haunting
• undoing
• irritating
• exercising
• rattling
• confusing
• bugging
• discomforting
• ailing
• perturbing
• disquieting
• dismaying
• derailing
• freaking (out)
• flurrying
• unhinging
• embarrassing
• discomposing
• fretting
• aggravating
• exasperating
• frazzling
• harassing
• pestering
• distempering
• hagriding
• irking
• weirding out
• harrying
• chafing
• vexing
• discouraging
• nettling
• grating
• riling
• getting
• putting off
• galling
• putting out
• disconcerting
• peeving
• flustering
• jarring
• bedeviling
• chivying
• piquing
• confounding
• shaking up
• discomfiting
• mortifying
• discountenancing
• unnerving
• daunting
• abashing
• nonplussing
• fazing
• disheartening
• demoralizing
• dispiriting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• settling
• composing
• soothing
• quieting
• calming
• alleviating
• allaying
• tranquilizing
• placating
• appeasing
• pacifying
• assuaging
• conciliating
• mollifying
• propitiating

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of fussing

Adjective

No more fussing, fumbling, or making a mess of my counter. — Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 29 Apr. 2026

Verb

Similar to Egypt after its collapse earlier in the week, Switzerland exited fussing about the officiating. — Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 12 July 2026

Yes, teaching by example is often a better way of handling a challenge than fussing about it. — Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 17 June 2026

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