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 Raphanus sativus isn't particularly fussy about soil, either. — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 21 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 The strappy design feels polished without being fussy, and the black-and-white colorway offers a refreshing alternative to the usual neutrals while remaining surprisingly versatile. — Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 7 June 2026 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 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
  • Neither team has pressed forward with much conviction in the first 15 minutes, and after some back-and-forth passing on the back line of the Netherlands' defense, boos could be heard from restless spectators in Monterrey.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 30 June 2026
  • Within a few restless months, the group of strangers have become a fragile family.
    — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 30 June 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
  • Determination and careful calculations — hold on, carry the 2 — are a must.
    — Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 2 July 2026
  • Graduate students face lower federal limits and the loss of Grad PLUS, requiring careful financial planning.
    — Scott White, Forbes.com, 2 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
  • At Clis boutique in Melrose Park, owner Jeimmy Espina is nervous and overwhelmed by the number of dead and injured in her home country.
    — Shardaa Gray, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • Apple head honchos are nervous about cybersecurity – and one reason might be a recent supply chain attack on supplier Tata, the largest Indian company of its kind to ink a partnership with the front-running American smartphone company.
    — John Werner, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of nervous

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fussy
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Cite this Entry

“Fussy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fussy. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of fussy for Spanish Speakers

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