1
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
2
as in finicky
hard to please
cats have a well-deserved reputation for being fussy eaters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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
4
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
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Recent Examples of fussy
Among the most classic of office dresses, a button-down shirtdress, usually made from a stiff cotton, silk, or corduroy, is dressy without feeling overly fussy.
—
Kristina Rutkowski, Glamour, 13 Jan. 2026
The pool has a shallow area to splash around in, and chefs are happy to work around fussy palates.
—Chris Schalkx, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Dec. 2025
For an even less fussy, truly local experience, there’s Dave’s Last Resort, one of South Florida’s favorite dive bars, where the seafood’s always fresh and the game’s always on.
—Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 2025
Skip the fussy dinner party energy and lean into something way more approachable.
—Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fussy
Kristina Rutkowski, Glamour, 13 Jan. 2026
The pool has a shallow area to splash around in, and chefs are happy to work around fussy palates.
—Chris Schalkx, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Dec. 2025
For an even less fussy, truly local experience, there’s Dave’s Last Resort, one of South Florida’s favorite dive bars, where the seafood’s always fresh and the game’s always on.
—Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 2025
Skip the fussy dinner party energy and lean into something way more approachable.
—Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fussy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fussy
Adjective
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Unlike restless Nora, Agnes is married with a son, able to view her deeply flawed dad from the vantage point of both a daughter and mother.—
Tim Grierson,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2026
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Many knitters describe the activity as a way to channel anxious or restless energy into something tangible.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
3 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Some houseplants are finicky about humidity, but African violets are usually content with standard household humidity levels.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Jan. 2026
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In-car wireless chargers are notoriously finicky.—
Kristin Shaw,
Popular Science,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Drivers were advised to be careful in the snow, as there were problems on area roadways.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
25 Jan. 2026
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Publicly, both leaders had maintained careful language about Syria’s transition, emphasizing concerns for minority rights, human rights standards, and the need for inclusive governance.—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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In recent decades, they have been staged in the ornate City Council chamber, outside Griffith Park Observatory and even at an electric truck factory in Harbor City.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
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Drawing from the series’ most iconic symbols — bows, bees, wisteria, and friendship motifs — the collection reimagines Bridgerton’s ornate world through a modern, wearable lens.—
Brittany Talarico,
PEOPLE,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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On the contrary, Juventus’ football soothed even the most irritable sections of the crowd.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
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This can include feeling irritable, having a low frustration tolerance, feeling easily overstimulated, and having rapid shifts in emotion.—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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My picky kids specifically ask for this.—
Nellah Bailey McGough,
Southern Living,
2 Jan. 2026
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Vionic Kimmie Court Sneakers This Vionic Galia sneaker sale is so good that my picky 60-year-old mom and I are both running to checkout.—
Kyra Surgent,
InStyle,
29 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Lehane taps into the paranoia of the 1950s with aplomb, with meticulous research into the McCarthy era.—
Oline H. Cogdill,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Jan. 2026
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Their goal is to restore the property — which was designed with meticulous detail — to a clean and stable condition suitable for future redevelopment and community use, according to SaJade Miller, President of Livingston Community Development Foundation.—
Kamal Morgan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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While the money is flowing, state officials are still nervous.—
Miquéla V Thornton,
Bloomberg,
27 Jan. 2026
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The atmosphere at the Emirates was nervous, too, and their next two opponents — Leeds (away) and Sunderland (home) — will give no quarter.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fussy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fussy. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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