fuss

[ fuhs ]

noun

1. an excessive display of anxious attention or activity; needless or useless bustle:

   They made a fuss over the new baby.

   Synonyms: commotion, stir, to-do, pother

   Antonyms: inactivity

2. an argument or noisy dispute:

   They had a fuss about who should wash dishes.

3. a complaint or protest, especially about something relatively unimportant.

verb (used without object)

1. to make a fuss; make much ado about trifles:

   You'll never finish the job if you fuss over details.

2. to complain especially about something relatively unimportant.

verb (used with object)

1. to disturb, especially with trifles; annoy; bother.

   Synonyms: pester

fuss

/ fʌs /

noun

1. nervous activity or agitation, esp when disproportionate or unnecessary
2. complaint or objection

   he made a fuss over the bill

3. an exhibition of affection or admiration, esp if excessive

   they made a great fuss over the new baby

4. a quarrel; dispute

verb

1. intr to worry unnecessarily
2. intr to be excessively concerned over trifles
3. whenintr, usually foll by over to show great or excessive concern, affection, etc (for)
4. intrfoll bywith to quarrel violently
5. tr to bother (a person)

Derived Forms

• ˈfusser, noun

Other Words From

• fusser noun
• un·fussed adjective
• un·fussing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fuss¹

First recorded in 1695–1705; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of fuss¹

C18: of uncertain origin

Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with fuss , also see kick up a fuss ; make a fuss .

Example Sentences

Patrick Henry’s cheer situation highlights the pressure some parents have felt to keep their kids involved in youth sports during the pandemic – and to not raise a fuss or ask if they meet local health and safety orders.

From Voice of San Diego

If you’re looking for reliable reading aids without the fuss, consider these ultra classic picks.

From Popular-Science

Combined with its container that holds up to 17 spent capsules at a time, this machine is fine-tuned for maximum efficiency with minimal fuss.

From Popular-Science

If Gloria and Lawson-Remer both win, Ikhrata opponents on the board could raise a fuss, but couldn’t hope to defeat his plan.

From Voice of San Diego

In other words, despite the slew of advertisers that made a fuss about pulling their ads, Facebook’s ad business will continue to thrive — even as some of its biggest advertisers keep away.

From Digiday

Now, with the publication of ‘Loitering,’ the uninitiated can discover what all the fuss is about.

From The Daily Beast

The jacket and gloves were a precaution in the event the eaglet panicked, but there was little fuss as he tossed the net over her.

From The Daily Beast

After what one cop called “a heck of a fuss,” they finally managed to print her.

From The Daily Beast

Others have argued that he was never really that great, and the sports world has made a big fuss over nothing.

From The Daily Beast

She knew how to cause a fuss, how to become the center of media attention.

From The Daily Beast

I'm getting rather bored, you know, Georgie, with the fuss people make in town.

From Project Gutenberg

I knowed, a-course, that I could go kick up a fuss when Simpson stopped by his office on his trip back from Goldstone.

From Project Gutenberg

"Better stop making a fuss, first off," growled another masculine voice, and again Betty giggled nervously.

From Project Gutenberg

Sure, when you come to think of it, a king is no more than any other man, only for all the fuss that does be made about him.

From Project Gutenberg

I remember the fuss they made about it in the society papers—fulsome, sickenin' sort of hog-wash they wrote.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• commotion
• confusion
• controversy
• excitement
• flap
• furor
• hassle
• ruckus
• stink