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

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

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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 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
  1. restless
  2. finicky
  3. careful
  4. ornate
  5. irritable
  6. picky
  7. meticulous
  8. nervous
Adjective
  • The London trio updates the naive humanism of 2000s indie-folk with modern dread and restless experimentation on its ambitious full-length debut.
    — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 7 July 2026
  • Her book is a panoramic, abundantly detailed history of a century of turmoil and restless migratory movements gravitating around El Paso.
    — Julia Preston, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026
Definition of restless
Adjective
  • 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
  • The idea of apps like Partiful are to eliminate the need for finicky email threads and groupchats with a bunch of unknown numbers by instead putting all the info – guest list, event details and photos – in one place.
    — Rachel Hale, USA Today, 29 June 2026
Definition of finicky
Adjective
  • When an accident brings the enigmatic Gaia into their lives, unexpected desires begin to take shape, unsettling the careful balance that has long defined their relationship.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 9 July 2026
  • Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of careful
Adjective
  • The ornate dress hit just above the ankle, revealing a pair of metallic gold pumps with a lustrous finish.
    — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 5 July 2026
  • Opened in 1901, the ornate behemoth in Center City, built in the style of the Second Empire, remains a showstopper today.
    — Regan Stephens, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of ornate
Adjective
  • 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
  • Cancer could be affectionate and chatty one moment, and withdrawn and irritable the next, with little to no explanation.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 23 June 2026
Definition of irritable
Adjective
  • Again, these shops—think Plato’s Closet or Uptown Cheapskate—are picky and often cater to a younger audience.
    — Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 1 July 2026
  • McLaughlin admits that years of parenting picky eaters helped inspire the central idea behind the project.
    — Chris Barilla, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026
Definition of picky
Adjective
  • It is well known that Jefferson kept meticulous weather records over several decades.
    — Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • Licensing calls for meticulous attention to ownership splits, territorial rights, and expiration dates.
    — Faye Bradley, Variety, 2 July 2026
Definition of meticulous
Adjective
  • The looming project was why Purohit was nervous to move her mother into Silverado last winter.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • For most of the last decade the threat argument was a transatlantic one, with a nervous eastern flank pulling against a distracted west.
    — Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 7 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 11 Jul. 2026.

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