fussy

/ˈfʌsi/

/ˈfʌsi/

Other forms: fussier; fussiest

If you’re fussy, you’re all about the little details. You want the dressing on the side, you want your collar just so, and you want the place mats arranged at a 90-degree angle.

The word fussy came into English in the 19th century, but it’s a good bet that people have been fussy since the beginning of time. If you’re fussy, you’re really picky about your needs and requirements. You might be fussy about your food and refuse to eat cauliflower. You’re rarely satisfied — that can be annoying! Fussy can also describe something that has too much going on, like a fussy shirt that has ruffles, buttons, and a large floral pattern.

Definitions of fussy

1. adjective

   exacting especially about details
   “fussy about clothes”

   synonyms: finical, finicky, particular, picky

   fastidious

   giving careful attention to detail; hard to please; excessively concerned with cleanliness
2. adjective

   annoyed and irritable
   synonyms: bad-tempered, crabbed, crabby, cross, grouchy, grumpy, ill-tempered

   ill-natured

   having an irritable and unpleasant disposition
3. adjective

   overcrowded or cluttered with detail
   “a fussy design”

   synonyms: busy

   fancy

   not plain; decorative or ornamented