Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Excessively concerned with or attentive to details, often minor ones: Describes someone who is hard to please, especially regarding small matters of appearance, cleanliness, or order.
   • Overly elaborate or cluttered: Describes something that is excessively decorated or contains too much intricate detail, often to the point of being visually busy.
   • Irritable or easily upset: Describes a person who is often annoyed or fretful, especially over trivial matters.

Examples of Usage

• Describing a person's behavior:
  • She is very fussy about her desk; everything must be in its exact place.
  • The baby is fussy today and won't stop crying.
• Describing an object or design:
  • The wallpaper had a fussy pattern with too many small flowers.
  • He disliked the fussy ornamentation on the old furniture.

Advanced Usage

• "to be fussy about something": To be very particular or demanding regarding a specific thing.
  • He's fussy about the quality of his coffee beans.
• "to get fussy": To become irritable or agitated.
  • The toddler gets fussy when he's tired.

Variants and Related Words

• Fuss (n/v): Unnecessary or excessive excitement, activity, or interest; to show excessive concern.
  • What's all the fuss about?
• Fussily (adv): In a fussy manner.
  • She arranged the flowers fussily.
• Fussiness (n): The quality or state of being fussy.
  • The fussiness of the design made it look cluttered.

Synonyms

• Finicky: Excessively particular, especially about food or details.
• Fastidious: Very attentive to accuracy, detail, and cleanliness.
• Persnickety (informal): Placing too much emphasis on trivial details.
• Irritable: Easily annoyed or angered.

Related Phrases

• Fussy eater: A person, especially a child, who is very selective about food.
  • It's difficult to cook for a fussy eater.

Adjective

1. exacting especially about details
   • a finicky eater
   • fussy about clothes
   • very particular about how her food was prepared
2. overcrowded or cluttered with detail
   • a busy painting
   • a fussy design
3. annoyed and irritable