# fussy

/ˈfəsi/ (US) · /fˈʌsi/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fussy
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

hard to please because you care too much about small, unimportant details. You use this to describe someone who is very picky about what they like or how things are done.

For teachers: excessively concerned with or fastidious about trivial details; difficult to satisfy. Often used to describe children's eating habits or an overly decorative style.

## Examples

- My cat is very fussy about what brand of food she eats.
- The new manager is quite fussy about the office layout and insists that every desk remains perfectly tidy.
- The interior designer avoided using fussy patterns or elaborate ornaments, preferring a minimalist aesthetic that focused on clean lines and natural light.

## Usage notes

- Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'be', 'become', or 'get'. Frequently takes the preposition 'about'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.