as in complaining
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
1
as in screaming
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
the eldest daughter is always fussing that she gets stuck with all the chores around the house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in drooling
to make an exaggerated display of affection or enthusiasm
fans fussing over their favorite rock guitarist
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in moaning
to make often peevish criticisms or objections about matters that are minor, unimportant, or irrelevant
the picky eater who fusses over the arrangement of food on his plate or who won't eat the rice if it touches the salad
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in fawning
to use flattery or the doing of favors in order to win approval especially from a superior
given to fussing over her father whenever she wants a favor or some ready cash
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in worrying
to experience concern or anxiety
there is no use in fussing over things that you can't control
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in bothering
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
you shouldn't let a little thing like that fuss you
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fussing
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
29 Apr. 2026
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
17 June 2026
Ever the dedicated mother, Stacy runs to her adult daughter’s aid, fussing at her for not using a driver for her errands.
—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
Your son is fussing in his car seat.
—
Elizabeth Bruenig,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
Emma looked around, confused at the adults fussing around him and too young, perhaps, to grasp the severity of the scene.
—
Maeva Bambuck,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
As the migrants boarded, a man hoisted one of the passengers in the air, a fussing 8-month-old baby whose face was flushed red from the heat.
—
Daniel Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
6 Nov. 2025
With five blades sandwiched between two moisturizing bars, this razor speeds up the entire process (no fussing around with shaving cream), nourishing dry skin and making nicks a rare occurrence.
—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
This was the mid 1980s and tandem skydiving hadn’t been popularized yet, so his father, Roger, adjusted accordingly by stuffing carpet padding into the leg pads to stop him from fussing.
—
Angelina Liu,
People.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Helen bending at her wide waist, fussing again with the shoe, a cream leather high-top, cursing quietly under her breath, hair falling into her face.
—
Literary Hub,
23 June 2025
Adjective
No more fussing, fumbling, or making a mess of my counter.
—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
Yes, teaching by example is often a better way of handling a challenge than fussing about it.
—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
17 June 2026
Ever the dedicated mother, Stacy runs to her adult daughter’s aid, fussing at her for not using a driver for her errands.
—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
Your son is fussing in his car seat.
—
Elizabeth Bruenig,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
Emma looked around, confused at the adults fussing around him and too young, perhaps, to grasp the severity of the scene.
—
Maeva Bambuck,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
As the migrants boarded, a man hoisted one of the passengers in the air, a fussing 8-month-old baby whose face was flushed red from the heat.
—
Daniel Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
6 Nov. 2025
With five blades sandwiched between two moisturizing bars, this razor speeds up the entire process (no fussing around with shaving cream), nourishing dry skin and making nicks a rare occurrence.
—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
This was the mid 1980s and tandem skydiving hadn’t been popularized yet, so his father, Roger, adjusted accordingly by stuffing carpet padding into the leg pads to stop him from fussing.
—
Angelina Liu,
People.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Helen bending at her wide waist, fussing again with the shoe, a cream leather high-top, cursing quietly under her breath, hair falling into her face.
—
Literary Hub,
23 June 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fussing
Adjective
-
An energy vampire has bad body language, the complaining look on their face, the vocal complainer.
Verb
-
The couple’s relationship began with a friendship bracelet and a podcast shout-out in July 2023, and by September Swift was screaming profanities in support of her new favorite football player.
-
As Rayan began screaming, al-Ajeen, whose family has long farmed in the area, picked up his son and began walking again.
Verb
-
Signs of heat stroke in dogs include heavy panting and drooling, being weak or lethargic, bright red gums and bloodshot eyes.
-
This golden lasagna is the perfect way to offer a vegetarian option that meat-eaters will be drooling over.
Verb
-
The process left Carruthers bleeding and moaning on May 21, according to the witness, Maria DeLiberato, senior counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union's Capital Punishment Project.
-
The stuff with a load of people wearing wigs moaning about taxes just isn’t seen as very glamorous.
Verb
-
But the food justified every rave review, hour-long wait for a table, and fawning Instagram image.
-
Pelley’s fawning interview with then-president Biden tells a different story.
Verb
-
There was drama, remarkable goals and worrying injury in Sweden’s showdown with Japan at AT&T Stadium Thursday in the final Group F match.
-
The president's strategy is already worrying some Democrats in swing districts, such as Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen on Long Island.
Verb
-
That shift may help explain why some couples notice their partner’s scent bothering them more during periods of conflict.
-
The chest pain that had been bothering her finally let up.
Adjective
-
The death toll includes at least 19 children, 21 non-protesting civilians, and 165 in government or security forces.
-
Among the dead were 13 children and 14 non-protesting civilians, HRANA said.
Cite this Entry
“Fussing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fussing. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
