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

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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 The rooms Even the fussiest will be hard-pressed to find fault with them. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 Today’s recipe Carolynn Carreño’s recipe for this smooth, creamy chocolate frosting is easy to make, with none of the potential pitfalls of fussy European buttercreams. — Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026 The doughnuts are tender with a subtly sweet dough, and the toppings aren’t overly fussy. — Lia Picard, AJC.com, 27 Sep. 2026 However, after embodying fussy dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock for Phantom Thread in 2017, Day-Lewis was once again claiming to be done with show business. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Sep. 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
  • If restless nights are a pattern, a conversation with your doctor may matter more than what sits in your snack bowl.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Geographically restless and lonely people everywhere are jealous!
    — Shayla Love, Vox, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of restless
Adjective
  • The most finicky part of the setup was actually inserting the battery for the igniter.
    — Noah Kaufman, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The oversized trench coat maintains its spot in the fall capsule wardrobe, while a few more unexpected silhouettes, like the elevated track jacket, offer both protection and elegance in the notoriously finicky weather to come.
    — Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of finicky
Adjective
  • Along with potentially leeching microplastics into your food, plastic food storage containers absorb stains, odors, and flavors, and many require careful hand-washing to prevent them from warping.
    — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Gallery visitors were careful not to step on the sprawling assemblage of photographs, drawings and artifacts scattered across the floor.
    — Jane Horowitz, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of careful
Adjective
  • Her library hosted a bright pink sofa and matching rug alongside an orange armchair, while the living room held kitschy dog statues, seats the color of lemon drops, and ornate silver candlesticks.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 29 Oct. 2026
  • There’s a luminous series of royal blue engravings presented with ornate flourishes, recalling styles favored by the French aristocracy.
    — Elisa Turner, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of ornate
Adjective
  • Murray says her own experience has made her more understanding when female colleagues seem more tired or irritable than usual, particularly when the behavior is out of character.
    — Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Could be because for much of the running time, Abrams’ Jay Gardiner is up against what looks like a very large irritable sphincter.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of irritable
Adjective
  • The report read this as a sign of a pickier market as the business consolidates.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Rob Haugen of Michels Family Office said uncertainty over where interest rates are headed has made the firm pickier about investing in the asset class.
    — Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of picky
Adjective
  • What followed was a meticulous restoration focused on preserving the original structures and historical details, and eventually, the addition of a couple of new buildings in the same vernacular to accommodate larger suites.
    — Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 2026
  • That setup, thanks in large part to Pask’s meticulous set-dressing, gives Crystal and his director Scott Ellis a potent visual metaphor.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of meticulous
Adjective
  • That sounds appealing, especially to investors nervous about market declines.
    — Daniel Kern, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Shopkeepers boarded up windows while others opened temporarily and endured a nervous Saturday afternoon, after around 3,000 shops were damaged or looted last weekend.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of nervous

Browse Nearby Words

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 1 Nov. 2026.

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