fussy

[ fuhs-ee ]

adjective

, fuss·i·er, fuss·i·est.

1. excessively busy with trifles; anxious or particular about petty details.
2. hard to satisfy or please:

   a fussy eater.

   Synonyms: persnickety, finicky, choosy, particular

3. (of clothes, decoration, etc.) elaborately made, trimmed, or decorated:

   All the bric-a-brac gave the room a fussy, cluttered look.

4. full of details, especially in excess:

   His writing is so fussy I lose the thread of the story.

fussy

/ ˈfʌsɪ /

adjective

1. inclined to fuss over minor points
2. very particular about detail
3. characterized by overelaborate detail

   the furniture was too fussy to be elegant

Derived Forms

• ˈfussily, adverb
• ˈfussiness, noun

Other Words From

• fussi·ly adverb
• fussi·ness noun
• over·fussy adjective
• un·fussi·ly adverb
• un·fussi·ness noun
• un·fussy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fussy¹

First recorded in 1825–35; fuss + -y ¹

Example Sentences

It all took its toll: our fussy baby, the constant nursery rhymes, and getting lost as Waze tried to help us avoid traffic.

From BBC

Three other adults who were in the house when Isiah was hurt said none of them heard yelling, hitting, or signs that Olivares had been angry, or that Isiah had been fussy.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s also to not be fussy about what you have to make a dish.

From Salon

Identical twins were much more similar in terms of how fussy or adventurous they tended to be with food than non-identical ones - suggesting a strong genetic component.

From BBC

Courtly men were evidently conscious of taking their beard-grooming too far, lest they resemble fussy women rather than men playing at battle.

From Salon

Related Words

• choosy
• conscientious
• discriminating
• finicky
• scrupulous
• squeamish