fuss
1 of 2noun
ˈfəs 
1
a
: needless bustle or excitement
They got down to business without any fuss.
b
: a show of flattering attention
made a big fuss over his favorite niece
2
a
: a state of agitation especially over a trivial matter
in a fuss and stew all afternoon—
Molly L. Bar-David
Molly L. Bar-David b
: objection, protest
She accepted the new assignment without any fuss.
c
: an often petty controversy or quarrel
the fuss they are raising … over certain words and phrases—B. J. Hendricks
B. J. Hendricksfuss
2 of 2verb
fussed; fussing; fusses
intransitive verb
1
a
: to create or be in a state of restless activity
especially : to shower flattering attentions
fussing over the grandchildren
b
: to pay close or undue attention to small details
fussed with her hair
2
a
: to become upset : worry
b
: to express annoyance or pique : complain
transitive verb
: agitate, upset
fusser noun
Synonyms
Noun
- challenge
- complaint
- demur
- demurral
- demurrer
- difficulty
- exception
- expostulation
- kick
- objection
- protest
- question
- remonstrance
- stink
Verb
- beef
- bellyache
- bitch
- bleat
- carp
- caterwaul
- complain
- crab
- croak
- gripe
- grizzle
- grouch
- grouse
- growl
- grumble
- grump
- holler
- inveigh
- keen
- kick
- kvetch
- maunder [chiefly British]
- moan
- murmur
- mutter
- nag
- repine
- scream
- squawk
- squeal
- wail
- whimper
- whine
- whinge [British]
- yammer
- yawp
- yaup
- yowl
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun They got down to business without any fuss. What is all the fuss about? Her new novel has caused quite a fuss. I don't want to make a fuss, but this soup is cold. Verb She'll fuss the whole time we're gone. I told him not to fuss. The baby fussed all day. Stop fussing and get to work! He's fussing about his new assignment. See More
Recent Examples on the WebIEEE Spectrum, 23 Jan. 2023 Even at catered school lunches, Huggins won’t make a fuss if none of the sandwiches are vegetarian. —Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 4 Jan. 2023 Instagram really brought back Away Messages and didn't make any fuss about it. —Kalhan Rosenblatt, NBC News, 15 Dec. 2022 Now the brand is synonymous with monied young professionals who know what looks good but don’t want to make a fuss. —Camille Okhio, ELLE Decor, 30 Nov. 2022 Queen Elizabeth was rarely one to complain or make a fuss. —Sarah Lyall, New York Times, 7 Nov. 2022 So by the time the real one got out there, there was no fuss, no one cared. —Clark Collis, EW.com, 9 Dec. 2022 If a good team ran those plays, say the Chiefs, there would be no fuss. —Kent Somers, The Arizona Republic, 28 Nov. 2022 There won’t be a fuss, and the griddle will light up with your egg in moments. —Nick Rallo, Dallas News, 13 Apr. 2022 Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 25 Jan. 2023 Why fuss about haters and clout chasers if family’s the most important connection? —Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 17 May 2022 Their adult daughters fuss about their parents’ foot-dragging to make special plans. —Dallas News, 16 Dec. 2022 About two-thirds of the way up, Beckett started to fuss. —Abigail Wise, Outside Online, 13 Oct. 2022 Why fuss with baby shoes when these warm booties just slip right on and snap firm? —Good Housekeeping, 16 Nov. 2022 Beckett started to fuss again, getting hungry after such a long wait. —Abigail Wise, Outside Online, 13 Oct. 2022 Someone digs out a stack of ring toss hoops, while others fuss over small cups of tea. —Stephanie Yangstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2022 This one from Magic Mill offers even heat distribution, so there’s no need to fuss with rotating your food during baking. —Mallory Arnold, Outside Online, 11 Oct. 2022 See More
Noun
Here's an interesting design for a manipulator that can do in-hand manipulation with a minimum of fuss, from the Yale Grablab. —IEEE Spectrum, 23 Jan. 2023 Even at catered school lunches, Huggins won’t make a fuss if none of the sandwiches are vegetarian. —Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 4 Jan. 2023 Instagram really brought back Away Messages and didn't make any fuss about it. —Kalhan Rosenblatt, NBC News, 15 Dec. 2022 Now the brand is synonymous with monied young professionals who know what looks good but don’t want to make a fuss. —Camille Okhio, ELLE Decor, 30 Nov. 2022 Queen Elizabeth was rarely one to complain or make a fuss. —Sarah Lyall, New York Times, 7 Nov. 2022 So by the time the real one got out there, there was no fuss, no one cared. —Clark Collis, EW.com, 9 Dec. 2022 If a good team ran those plays, say the Chiefs, there would be no fuss. —Kent Somers, The Arizona Republic, 28 Nov. 2022 There won’t be a fuss, and the griddle will light up with your egg in moments. —Nick Rallo, Dallas News, 13 Apr. 2022 Verb
These medium level compression socks are key for anyone who doesn’t want to fuss with the (occasional) struggle of getting their compression socks on and off, particularly at higher compression levels. —Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 25 Jan. 2023 Why fuss about haters and clout chasers if family’s the most important connection? —Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 17 May 2022 Their adult daughters fuss about their parents’ foot-dragging to make special plans. —Dallas News, 16 Dec. 2022 About two-thirds of the way up, Beckett started to fuss. —Abigail Wise, Outside Online, 13 Oct. 2022 Why fuss with baby shoes when these warm booties just slip right on and snap firm? —Good Housekeeping, 16 Nov. 2022 Beckett started to fuss again, getting hungry after such a long wait. —Abigail Wise, Outside Online, 13 Oct. 2022 Someone digs out a stack of ring toss hoops, while others fuss over small cups of tea. —Stephanie Yangstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2022 This one from Magic Mill offers even heat distribution, so there’s no need to fuss with rotating your food during baking. —Mallory Arnold, Outside Online, 11 Oct. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
origin unknown
First Known Use
Noun
1701, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1792, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a
Phrases Containing fuss
Kids Definition
fuss
1 of 2 noun ˈfəs
1
: unnecessary activity or excitement often over something unimportant
2
: protest entry 1
3
: a great show of interest
made a fuss over the baby
fuss
2 of 2 verb : to make a fuss
fusser noun
fussing 1 of 2
adjective
as in complaining
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- complaining
- grumbling
- whining
- squawking
- protesting
- griping
- kvetching
- impatient
- uncompromising
- unforgiving
- intolerant
- unyielding
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- forbearing
- patient
- accepting
- enduring
- abiding
- uncomplaining
- forgiving
- tolerant
- willing
- resigned
- indulgent
- long-suffering
fussing
2 of 2verb
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
- complaining
- screaming
- whining
- moaning
- muttering
- grumbling
- worrying
- squawking
- bitching
- whimpering
- yammering
- crying
- kvetching
- grizzling
- growling
- squealing
- bellyaching
- hollering
- grousing
- kicking
- nagging
- griping
- caterwauling
- wailing
- murmuring
- grouching
- whinging
- repining
- grumping
- yowling
- whingeing
- beefing
- carping
- keening
- bleating
- inveighing
- crabbing
- protesting
- yawping
- kicking up a stink
- sobbing
- yauping
- kicking up a fuss
- maundering
- quibbling
- croaking
- blubbering
- fretting
- stewing
- caviling
- bewailing
- lamenting
- cavilling
- quarrelling (with)
- bemoaning
- quarreling (with)
- deploring
- objecting (to)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- rejoicing
- tolerating
- taking
- delighting
- accepting
- crowing
- enduring
- applauding
- bearing
- commending
- cheering
- countenancing
2
as in drooling
to make an exaggerated display of affection or enthusiasm fans fussing over their favorite rock guitarist Synonyms & Similar Words
- drooling
- raving
- rhapsodizing
- slobbering
- effusing
- gushing
- enthusing
- fawning
- emoting
- doting (on)
3
as in whining
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
- complaining
- whining
- nitpicking
- moaning
- quibbling
- niggling
- carping
- bitching
- muttering
- caviling
- criticizing
- squawking
- grumbling
- cavilling
- yammering
- splitting hairs
- squealing
- kvetching
- wailing
- bellyaching
- grousing
- whimpering
- griping
- kicking
- faulting
- yowling
- growling
- beefing
- murmuring
- crabbing
- yawping
- yauping
- croaking
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- praising
- recommending
- applauding
- commending
- complimenting
- approving
- supporting
- backing
- endorsing
- championing
- indorsing
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
- drooling
- fawning
- kowtowing
- courting
- bootlicking
- toadying
- submitting
- truckling
- coaxing
- wooing
- deferring
- currying favor
- cringing
- slobbering
- cajoling
- gushing
- cowering
- apple-polishing
- ingratiating
- sucking (up)
- worshipping
- kissing up to
- endearing
- slavering
- idolizing
- adulating
- blandishing
- worshiping
- flattering
- groveling
- overpraising
- yielding
- demeaning
- debasing
- grovelling
- abasing
- soft-soaping
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disdaining
- despising
- scorning
- scoffing
- jeering
- defying
- challenging
- jibing
- gibing
- braving
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
- worrying
- fretting
- fearing
- stressing
- stewing
- bothering
- sweating
- troubling
- caring a hang
- agonizing
- pining
- longing
- giving a hang
- yearning
- sweating blood
- despairing
- chafing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- accepting
- taking
- tolerating
- sustaining
- enduring
- sticking out
- bearing
- abiding
- stomaching
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
- bothering
- worrying
- distracting
- disturbing
- alarming
- concerning
- agitating
- annoying
- unsettling
- distressing
- angering
- upsetting
- irritating
- undoing
- plaguing
- rattling
- haunting
- confusing
- exercising
- discomforting
- disquieting
- flurrying
- perturbing
- fretting
- ailing
- derailing
- bugging
- dismaying
- embarrassing
- aggravating
- unhinging
- discomposing
- exasperating
- frazzling
- harassing
- pestering
- getting
- irking
- distempering
- harrying
- alaruming
- vexing
- chafing
- hagriding
- discouraging
- grating
- nettling
- weirding out
- riling
- freaking (out)
- chivvying
- galling
- peeving
- flustering
- putting off
- disconcerting
- chivying
- putting out
- jarring
- bedeviling
- discomfiting
- confounding
- piquing
- unnerving
- shaking up
- mortifying
- discountenancing
- abashing
- nonplussing
- fazing
- daunting
- demoralizing
- disheartening
- nonplusing
- dispiriting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- settling
- quieting
- composing
- calming
- soothing
- alleviating
- allaying
- tranquilizing
- assuaging
- placating
- appeasing
- pacifying
- mollifying
- tranquillizing
- conciliating
- propitiating
- ornithocopros
- ornithodelph
- Ornithodelphes
- ornithodelphia
- ornithodelphian
- ornithodelphic
- ornithodelphous
- Ornithodorus
- ornithofauna
- Ornithogaean
- ornithogala
- ornithogalum
- ornithogalums
- ornithogean
- ornithoid
- Ornitholestes
- ornithologic
- ornithological
- ornithologically
- ornithologies
- ornithologist
- ornithologists
- ornithology
- ornithomancy
- ornithomimid