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
Gus and Marty’s is exactly what this corner of Brooklyn needed—elevated yet un-fussy, an essence of real warmth, and genuinely great food.
—
Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
For others, gloves feel unnecessary, awkward, or even a little fussy.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2026
Experts told Fox News Digital the shift is a response to years of fussy food culture and constant trend-chasing.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 23 Jan. 2026
The East Village setting is intimate without being fussy; reclaimed doors overhead and warm lighting create a dining room that locals use for celebrations and midweek splurges alike.
—Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fussy
Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
For others, gloves feel unnecessary, awkward, or even a little fussy.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2026
Experts told Fox News Digital the shift is a response to years of fussy food culture and constant trend-chasing.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 23 Jan. 2026
The East Village setting is intimate without being fussy; reclaimed doors overhead and warm lighting create a dining room that locals use for celebrations and midweek splurges alike.
—Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fussy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fussy
Adjective
-
The Nigerian city of more than 20 million people is renowned for its hustle and bustle, its restless energy and commercial drive — a place where honks from signature yellow passenger buses fill the air.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Gainsbourg plays Charlotte’s protective sister, while Hellmann stars as a restless artist caught between love and loyalty and McAlpine plays a young aspiring dancer.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Orchids might seem like finicky houseplants, but with the proper care, that grocery store stunner can bloom for years and years.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
13 Feb. 2026
-
However, the safety market has been finicky, with the value of the position declining in recent years.—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
14 Feb. 2026
-
As with any sauce, be careful not to over-reduce.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Male pufferfish that are trying to win over a female run their fins along the sand, creating ornate circles and patterns to attract a date.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The dining room is truly beautiful, decorated with hanging lights, colorful furniture, paper flowers, and an ornate ofrenda.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Lack of sleep can lead to a range of problems, including feeling more irritable.—
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
7 Feb. 2026
-
On the contrary, Juventus’ football soothed even the most irritable sections of the crowd.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
My mother, a picky eater, cleaned her plate of every course, and even ate oysters and mushrooms for the first time in my life!—
Charlie Hobbs,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Save your pickiest, most problematic tasks for days with strong, above-zero stars.—
Magi Helena,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The music was intimidating—funk and bebop, Afro-Caribbean—but Don was patient, somehow both meticulous and mellow.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Reznor has always been meticulous about structure.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Given the snowy conditions and fatigue levels, these are nervous moments for the athletes, with mere seconds separating winning from losing.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Hollywood version The team may have been extra nervous given that the previous high-profile adaptation of The House of the Spirits was a 1993 movie in English starring Hollywood actors like Meryl Streep, Glenn Close and Jeremy Irons.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fussy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fussy. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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