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 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 Both details and plants felt generic, overly fussy, and undifferentiated rather than intentional and cohesive. — Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2026 Raphanus sativus isn't particularly fussy about soil, either. — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 21 June 2026 Swift was shown spoon-feeding him, tongue in cheek, like a fussy baby in a restaurant. — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 20 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for fussy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fussy

Adjective

Between a home with three young children and a pediatric clinic crowded with restless kids, the noise at times felt relentless.

— Dana Suskind, Time, 14 July 2026
From the volatile peaks of Mount Etna to the restless Phlegraean Fields near Naples, understanding these unique gas signatures is important for assessing volcanic hazard.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 13 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

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

Some nervous observers are going so far as to swear off salads and other raw fruits and vegetables until the outbreak has run its course.

— Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2026
But Griffin’s recent donation to Moody is not the only indication Republicans could be more nervous about Florida than the Senate races in other bright-red states.

— Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026

Definition of nervous

Browse Nearby Words

fusspots

fussy

fustian

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Fussy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fussy. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of fussy

adjective

Example Sentences

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