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Definition of fussy

fussy

/ˈfʌs.i/
fus · sy
Adverb:fussily
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fussy Lexical Profile

fussy Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Fastidious about one's needs or requirements; hard to please and overly concerned with trivial details.

Example

"The children were unusually fussy eaters until they started helping prepare dinner in the kitchen."

2

North American Restless, irritable, and easily upset (typically said of a baby or young child).

Example

"The infant became fussy in the late afternoon because he had missed his usual nap."

3

Full of unnecessary detail or decoration; overly elaborate.

Example

"She preferred clean, modern furniture over the fussy Victorian pieces in her grandmother's parlor."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for fussy

• Nearby Words

fussily
fussiness
fusspot
fussy
futile
futilely
futility

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the mid-18th century from the noun 'fuss' (meaning an unnecessary commotion or bustle, likely of Anglo-Scottish origin) combined with the adjectival suffix '-y'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Fussy. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/fussy
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