fussy

adjective

ˈfə-sē How to pronounce fussy (audio)
fussier; fussiest
Synonyms of fussynext
1
: easily upset : irritable
2
: overly decorative
a fussy wallpaper pattern
3
a
: requiring or giving close attention to details
fussy bookkeeping procedures
b
: revealing a sometimes extreme concern for details : fastidious, picky
a fussy man who was hard to please
fussily
ˈfə-sə-lē How to pronounce fussy (audio)
adverb
fussiness
ˈfə-sē-nəs How to pronounce fussy (audio)
noun

Synonyms of fussy

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Examples of fussy in a Sentence

I'm not fussy about where we eat. The room was cluttered and fussy.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Infants may act sluggish or not active, vomit, be unusually fussy, face poor feeding, show a bulging soft spot on the head, or show poor reflexes. — Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026 The result has a polished vibe without being overly fussy or complicated to put together. — Aemilia Madden, Glamour, 16 Aug. 2026 Even fussy kids were devouring their slices and were largely eating their crusts. — Laura Ness, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2026 Buying a Turbo Live pass was a fussier exercise than necessary because the app didn’t work with Google Wallet. — Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fussy

Word History

First Known Use

1831, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Time Traveler
The first known use of fussy was in 1831

Rhymes for fussy

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Browse Nearby Words

fuss with
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fust
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Cite this Entry

“Fussy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fussy. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

fussy

adjective
ˈfəs-ē How to pronounce fussy (audio)
fussier; fussiest
1
: inclined to complain or whine
a fussy child
2
a
: needing or giving much attention to details
a fussy job
b
: hard to please
fussy about food
fussily
ˈfəs-ə-lē How to pronounce fussy (audio)
adverb
fussiness
ˈfəs-ē-nəs How to pronounce fussy (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on fussy

Nglish: Translation of fussy for Spanish Speakers

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