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
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
But since the fussy Seinfeld character was initially created as an elevated version of David himself, this sowed understandable confusion on the Curb set.
—
Thr Staff, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025
Sheer fabrics became power statements when paired with leather, and ruffles were structured rather than fussy.
—Essence, 24 Sep. 2025
Vogue’s Favorite Long-Sleeve Dresses Featured in this article The long-sleeve dress is polished without ever trying too hard, and takes the guesswork out of fussy layering if your morning routine needs a streamlined wardrobe solution—let our edit below guide you.
—Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 23 Sep. 2025
However, such symptoms are hard to attribute to vaccines because infants can be irritable or fussy regardless of vaccination.
—Aria Bendix, NBC news, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fussy
Thr Staff, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025
Sheer fabrics became power statements when paired with leather, and ruffles were structured rather than fussy.
—Essence, 24 Sep. 2025
Vogue’s Favorite Long-Sleeve Dresses Featured in this article The long-sleeve dress is polished without ever trying too hard, and takes the guesswork out of fussy layering if your morning routine needs a streamlined wardrobe solution—let our edit below guide you.
—Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 23 Sep. 2025
However, such symptoms are hard to attribute to vaccines because infants can be irritable or fussy regardless of vaccination.
—Aria Bendix, NBC news, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fussy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fussy
Adjective
-
The company’s movement language—restless, precise, elastic—has built a home for stories that were long told elsewhere, or not at all.—
Skylar Mitchell,
Essence,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Their deeper role is to host inquietud—the restless desire to know more, to question assumptions, to look for connections across disciplines and geographies.—
Javier Garcia del Moral
September 26,
Literary Hub,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Kirundo 3-Piece Lounge Set Layers are the secret to surviving the South’s finicky fall season.—
Gabriela Izquierdo,
Southern Living,
30 Sep. 2025
-
For decades, the vacuum was thought of as merely a finicky factor to be implemented as well as possible.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
These treatments require careful and ongoing monitoring.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
All that prestige hype matches the film’s uniquely ornate theatrical rollout, which includes Imax and other premium large-formats.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Take for example, traditional architecture or historical design, where ornate fireplace murals and visually prominent walls were common in classical European homes.—
Shivani Vyas,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
However, such symptoms are hard to attribute to vaccines because infants can be irritable or fussy regardless of vaccination.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
19 Sep. 2025
-
When the caffeine wears off, children may have a headache and feel irritable or tired.—
Dr. Mark Corkins,
Boston Herald,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Parents have long used this beloved casserole as a vehicle for sneaking some veggies into picky kids' diets.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Such restrictive menus are not ideal for picky eaters.—
Shindy Chen,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Many of the players enjoyed how meticulous the head coach was when going over details pre-and post-match but, as poor results continued, some felt this information went in one ear and out the other.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Nearly two decades of dominance, of meticulous netminding, of setting records for a franchise years away from reaching its current peak, ended without one ultimate accomplishment.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Now, Darvish will get to pitch in front of a stadium of screaming, hopeful, nervous Cubs fans.—
Jon Greenberg,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
If presidents are stars on the stage of world history, vice presidents are nervous understudies hidden away behind the scenes.—
Book Marks
October 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fussy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fussy. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share