fussy

adjective

ˈfə-sē How to pronounce fussy (audio)
Definition of fussynext
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?"

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in finicky
hard to please cats have a well-deserved reputation for being fussy eaters

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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

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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

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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 Making mini lava cakes is fussy, but this large format variation is as easy as can be. — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 1 July 2026 Visually, Jaron’s clean lines and subtle stitching give it a timeless look that is anything but fussy. — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 25 June 2026 This morning, Oprah attended the annual Cannes LionHeart Seminar in an all-white look that felt effortlessly cool; it was elevated without being fussy. — Kaelin Dodge, InStyle, 23 June 2026 Raphanus sativus isn't particularly fussy about soil, either. — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 21 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for fussy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fussy
  1. restless
  2. finicky
  3. careful
  4. ornate
  5. irritable
  6. picky
  7. meticulous
  8. nervous
Adjective
  • The brand is part of a fast-growing category of functional desserts targeting people who still want something sweet before bed but no longer want the payoff of a restless night.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 17, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
  • Between philosophy and flesh, jealousy and freedom, spring unfolds as a restless search for love, nature, and the fragile ethics of attachment.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 17 July 2026
Definition of restless
Adjective
  • Since pies can be finicky but also have the ability to be the star of the show at any get together (from Thanksgiving to a casual summertime cookout), every Southern cook needs at least one or two heirloom pie recipes in their back pocket.
    — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 15 July 2026
  • Why simplicity is the whole game Right now, except for a few robot makers who are already scaling like Agibot and Unitree, humanoid robots are expensive, hand-built, and finicky.
    — John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of finicky
Adjective
  • But the series is careful to cast suspicions in a multitude of directions, not merely at Michael but at several people in Sarah’s orbit who only reveal themselves when backed into corners.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 23 July 2026
  • Since pilot and crew remains may also still be buried underground, careful excavation work is even more important.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 23 July 2026
Definition of careful
Adjective
  • Since 2024, a new system of permits has designated four categories of mudlark, a satisfyingly ornate regime for what is, at heart, a deeply painstaking activity.
    — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 17 July 2026
  • In many African countries, couples’ families will exchange ornate jewelry or beads instead.
    — Boutayna Chokrane, Vogue, 17 July 2026
Definition of ornate
Adjective
  • Perelman said people who have weakened immune systems and those with irritable bowel disease may want to talk to their doctors before incorporating the foods into their diet.
    — Devi Shastri, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
  • The symptoms are so delayed that people often blame them on food poisoning, irritable-bowel syndrome, gluten intolerance.
    — Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
Definition of irritable
Adjective
  • Did Argentina benefit, in the last 16, from a by-the-rules but picky VAR decision that nixed a quality goal by Egypt?
    — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026
  • Yellow and green squash add a good dose of veggies to this baked pasta, but are combined with enough gooey cheese that the picky eaters won’t even mind.
    — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 17 July 2026
Definition of picky
Adjective
  • The Homeric text is full of transformations, shape-shifting and super-speed, alongside meticulous labor and elaborate rites; the movie is neither dazzling nor precise.
    — Caroline Mimbs Nyce, New Yorker, 17 July 2026
  • Later this evening, however, the moon slips into the meticulous and methodical sign of Virgo, which, in turn, grounds the atmosphere.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026
Definition of meticulous
Adjective
  • And investors are increasingly nervous about when and whether the mind-boggling sums being spent by Big Tech on data centers will ever generate returns.
    — Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 23 July 2026
  • This can reduce uncertainty for patients who are nervous about traveling abroad.
    — Nia Bowers, USA Today, 22 July 2026
Definition of nervous

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fusspots
fussy
fustian
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Cite this Entry

“Fussy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fussy. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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