fussier; fussiest
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 niceties : fastidious, picky
fussily adverb
fussiness noun

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.
In stark comparison to Cuisinart’s fussy components, the Breville has an easy-to-lock design. Wilder Davies, Bon Appétit, 21 Mar. 2025 Get The Recipe 32 of 32 Apple Crisp Less fussy than an apple pie but just as delicious, this crisp captures all the warm-spiced flavors of fall in one baking dish. Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 2025 Listen to this article Over the last quarter century, David Suchet became the definitive Hercule Poirot, starring as the fussy but perceptive private detective in 70 screen adaptations of Agatha Christie’s murder mysteries. Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025 The Portnoy in the pizza videos often has a preening, fussy, almost effete quality that complicates his butch self-image. Willy Staley, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Fussy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fussy. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

fussy

adjective
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 adverb
fussiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on fussy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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