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
Relevance
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 whining
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
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
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in complaining
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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
Adjective
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fussing
Verb
-
Foulla Niotis says her 17-year-old daughter, Maria, and Maria's best friend, Isabella Salas, were run down and killed by Maria's stalker despite months of complaining to police.—
Eric Shawn,
FOXNews.com,
17 Oct. 2025
-
For Gen Z, complaining can be a way to set boundaries, speak up, and try to hold companies accountable.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Well, then it’s being stolen right out from under its retracting proboscis, which is actually just another drooling head that lives in its mouth.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
22 Sep. 2025
-
The most common symptoms of teething include drooling, putting fingers or fists in their mouth, swollen or puffy gums, difficulty sleeping, crankiness and fussiness, per the institution.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The floor buffers come out, whining like jet engines in the hallways, erasing over a month’s worth of shoe scuffs that made the place look like the dasher boards at the hockey rink.—
Mark Glende,
Twin Cities,
15 Oct. 2025
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While there is anecdotal evidence that suggests dogs display addictive-like behaviors towards their toys, such as whining if a toy is out of reach or playing despite being injured, this study put it to the test.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Since his birth in 2014, photos and videos of Denny have been shared on social media, with users often fawning over him and calling him sweet.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
14 Oct. 2025
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Social media, then, too, was flooded with morally bankrupt leftists lauding the killing and fawning over the killer.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Grieving Vince, worrying about Bode, and taking care of her Cal Fire family is a lot to balance.—
Alamin Yohannes,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Oct. 2025
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Stop worrying about the bubble in AI—its growth is sustainable, three Wall Street analysts from Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and Wedbush argued this morning in notes seen by Fortune.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The dog recognizes that something is amiss, but isn’t capable of understanding what’s really bothering Todd.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
3 Oct. 2025
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The injury that will sideline Herro to begin this season is one that had been bothering him for a few months.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Obviously, there is a bird on the hood, the screaming chicken.—
Erik Shilling,
Robb Report,
15 Oct. 2025
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Pointed gestures toward the lingering tension between Japan and Korea — and between those two countries and the rest of the planet — are drowned out by tiresome bickering and exaggerated gags, like a meaningful conversation swallowed into the sound of an airplane engine screaming overhead.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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What Shoppers are Saying Walmart shoppers are raving about the Ezra Oversized Coffee Table in the product reviews for its style, quality, and value.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Oct. 2025
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The Avs have spent all training camp raving about the depth of their lineup.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
12 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fussing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fussing. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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