FUSSY Synonyms: 276 Similar and Opposite Words

fussy

adjective

ˈfə-sē

Definition of fussy

as in restless

given to complaining a lot predictably, the kids riding in the back were fussy passengers, always asking "Are we there yet?"

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in finicky

hard to please cats have a well-deserved reputation for being fussy eaters

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in careful

taking, showing, or involving great care and effort a fussy teacher who reads through papers two and even three times before issuing a grade

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in ornate

elaborately and often excessively decorated the room, with its rococo furniture and its overabundance of knickknacks, is just too fussy for my taste

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 fussy Hence, Lister sees a Liverpudlian woman, Rimmer encounters a fussy hologram, and the narcissistic Cat gets to date, well, himself. — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2026 The rooms Even the fussiest will be hard-pressed to find fault with them. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 Today’s recipe Carolynn Carreño’s recipe for this smooth, creamy chocolate frosting is easy to make, with none of the potential pitfalls of fussy European buttercreams. — Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026 The doughnuts are tender with a subtly sweet dough, and the toppings aren’t overly fussy. — Lia Picard, AJC.com, 27 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fussy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fussy

Adjective

Following the restless night, the animals’ sleep windows lengthened while their total REM-like time jumped from roughly nine minutes to seventeen.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Nov. 2026
Netflix’s org chart might be in crisis, and its subscribers are growing increasingly restless about the awful cadence of content worth caring about.

— David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of restless

Adjective

The most finicky part of the setup was actually inserting the battery for the igniter.

— Noah Kaufman, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2026
The oversized trench coat maintains its spot in the fall capsule wardrobe, while a few more unexpected silhouettes, like the elevated track jacket, offer both protection and elegance in the notoriously finicky weather to come.

— Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of finicky

Adjective

There’s that Japanese concept of space and pause—in the wide corridors, the uncluttered lobby, the careful symmetry.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
The first step was to tailor it to her size, while being careful to preserve the bespoke construction.

— Bella Webb, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of careful

Adjective

Restaurant Asador Etxebarri, which is located in Spain's Basque Country, won top billing as the World’s Best Restaurant 2026 at the event held at the ornate Teatro Municipal de Lima.

— Nathan Tavares, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
The game's astonishingly ornate textures can jar with its cartoony proportions.

— James Perkins Mastromarino, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of ornate

Adjective

Murray says her own experience has made her more understanding when female colleagues seem more tired or irritable than usual, particularly when the behavior is out of character.

— Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 21 Oct. 2026
Could be because for much of the running time, Abrams’ Jay Gardiner is up against what looks like a very large irritable sphincter.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of irritable

Adjective

The report read this as a sign of a pickier market as the business consolidates.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026
Rob Haugen of Michels Family Office said uncertainty over where interest rates are headed has made the firm pickier about investing in the asset class.

— Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of picky

Adjective

What followed was a meticulous restoration focused on preserving the original structures and historical details, and eventually, the addition of a couple of new buildings in the same vernacular to accommodate larger suites.

— Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 2026
That setup, thanks in large part to Pask’s meticulous set-dressing, gives Crystal and his director Scott Ellis a potent visual metaphor.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of meticulous

Adjective

Meyers' thinking is that as the odds go up of a Democratic party win, investors are getting more nervous about parts of the artificial intelligence trade.

— Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026
Later on, after the guests have left, this cheating convention makes Kaylee nervous.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of nervous

Browse Nearby Words

fusspots

fussy

fustian

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Style

“Fussy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fussy. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of fussy

adjective

Example Sentences

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