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
Frances Bavier was one of the show’s anchors as the warm, ever-so-slightly fussy Aunt Bee.
—
Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 June 2026
Hardy geraniums are not fussy about soil type.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 4 June 2026
The service The service at Il Sereno is not extra fussy, but it is considered and thoughtful.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Inside The Limited XT feels like a grown-up Subaru cabin - useful, roomy and not fussy.
—Josh Max, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for fussy
Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 June 2026
Hardy geraniums are not fussy about soil type.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 4 June 2026
The service The service at Il Sereno is not extra fussy, but it is considered and thoughtful.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Inside The Limited XT feels like a grown-up Subaru cabin - useful, roomy and not fussy.
—Josh Max, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for fussy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fussy
Adjective
-
Local legends speak of restless spirits, mysterious voices, and supernatural activity, although many claims are impossible to verify.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
15 June 2026
-
James Boyard, a Haitian police officer and security expert, was abducted Thursday morning in Raimbol in the Bourdon neighborhood as the family traveled through the capital to see a doctor after a restless night caring for their sick daughter.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
The restaurant, which has held its Michelin star for more than 20 years—no small feat in the finicky world of fine dining—continues to draw diners with seasonal course menus, shaped by local suppliers and produce from the estate gardens, as well as its service and sense of occasion.—
Lindsay Cohn,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2026
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Its finicky drainage needs are easier to manage in a pot, and lavender always looks fantastic in a large terra-cotta planter.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
China walked a careful diplomatic line during the conflict.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
-
All that plus nightly turndown service and 24-hour room service reflect the careful attention paid to guests at Moon Palace The Grand—Cancun.—
Chelsea Adams,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
Adjective
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The walls are chockablock with paintings of former presidents in heavily ornate gold frames.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
-
The film has a very specific, ornate visual style.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
They can be withdrawn or irritable.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
-
While Hockney worked, Auden, as the artist recalled, played the part of the impatient, irritable grump.—
Mark Rozzo,
Vanity Fair,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
Swift showed up in a video clip at the end of the show that circled back to earlier discussion about Kelce’s picky eating proclivities.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
20 June 2026
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Rosewood is notoriously picky about locations, and its first debut winter resort is a testament to that.—
Todd Plummer,
Robb Report,
19 June 2026
Adjective
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During hours of interviews and temple visits, the former smuggler recounted his exploits in meticulous detail.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
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Host Rachel Holt visits their Massachusetts workshop to meet the artisans behind the instruments and explore the meticulous process that brings each horn to life.—
Rachel Holt,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
Adjective
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Fantasy managers were nervous about investing in Brown due to possible rotation but one per cent of them were rewarded with a goal, an assist and the scouting bonus.—
Holly Shand,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
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Hundreds of thousands of fans, sitting in bars throughout the city, watched televisions in nervous silence.—
Jenna Thompson
June 16,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fussy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fussy. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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