Fuss — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈfəs/

Meaning & Definition of Fuss

Fuss (noun)

  1. needless bustle or excitement
  2. a show of flattering attention
  3. a state of agitation especially over a trivial matter

Fuss (verb)

  1. to create or be in a state of restless activity; especially, to shower flattering attentions
  2. to pay close or undue attention to small details
  3. to become upset, worry

Fuss (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent

    "she made a fuss over not being picked for the lead role in the play"

    similar: challenge, complaint, demur, demurral, demurrer, difficulty, exception, expostulation, kick, objection, protest, question, remonstrance, stink
    related: compunction, doubt, misgiving, qualm, scruple, misunderstanding, cavil, niggle (chiefly British), quibble, argument, conflict, debate, dispute, dissent, hassle, quarrel, squabble, static, censure, criticism, defiance, disobedience, rebellion, distrust, distrustfulness, dubiety, dubitation (archaic), incertitude, indetermination, misdoubt, mistrust, mistrustfulness, reservation, skepticism, suspicion, uncertainty, qualmishness, unease, uneasiness, reluctance, unwillingness
    near: willingness, approval, sanction, acceptance, acquiescence, agreement, assent, compliance, obedience

  2. a state of nervous or irritated concern

    "the new parents are always in a fuss over whether the baby is dressed warmly enough"

    similar: dither, fluster, fret, huff, lather, pother, stew, sweat, swelter, swivet, tizzy, twitter
    related: bother, dudgeon, pique, alarm, hand-wringing, panic, ado, agitation, delirium, distraction, furor, hysteria, uproar, nervous breakdown

  3. a state of noisy, confused activity

    "the company managed the move into the new building without any undue fuss"

    similar: ado, alarums and excursions, ballyhoo, blather, bluster, bobbery, bother, bustle, clatter, clutter (chiefly dialect), coil, commotion, disturbance, do (chiefly dialect), foofaraw, fun, furor, furore, helter-skelter, hoo-ha, hoopla, hubble-bubble, hubbub, hullabaloo, hurly, hurly-burly, hurricane, hurry, hurry-scurry, kerfuffle (chiefly British), moil, pandemonium, pother, row, ruckus, ruction, rumpus, shindy, splore (Scottish), squall, stew, stir, storm, to-do, tumult, turmoil, uproar, welter, whirl, williwaw, zoo
    related: cacophony, clamor, din, howl, hue and cry, noise, outcry, racket, roar, disorder, unrest, upheaval, eruption, flare-up, flurry, flutter, outbreak, outburst, brawl, fracas, fray, hassle, melee, scuffle, dither, fever, fret, lather, tizzy
    near: calm, hush, peace, quiet, quietude, rest, stillness, tranquility, order, orderliness

  4. an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment

    "none of the employees dared to make a fuss over having to come to work in the huge snowstorm"

    similar: beef, bitch, bleat, carp, complaint, grievance, gripe, grouch, grouse, grumble, holler, kvetch, lament, miserere, moan, murmur, plaint, squawk, wail, whimper, whine, whinge (British), yammer
    related: challenge, demur, expostulation, kick, niggle (chiefly British), objection, protest, quibble, remonstrance, stink
    near: commendation, compliment, plaudit, acclaim, applause, praise, approval, endorsement, sanction

Fuss (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: 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, yowl, kick up a fuss
    related: object (to), protest, quarrel (with), cavil, quibble, fret, stew, worry, blubber, cry, sob, bemoan, bewail, deplore, lament
    opposite: crow, delight, rejoice
    near: accept, bear, countenance, endure, take, tolerate, applaud, cheer, commend

  2. to make an exaggerated display of affection or enthusiasm

    "fans fussing over their favorite rock guitarist"

    similar: drool, effuse, enthuse, gush, rave, rhapsodize, slobber
    related: dote (on), fawn, emote

  3. 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"

    similar: carp, cavil, niggle, nitpick, quibble, split hairs
    related: criticize, fault, beef, bellyache, bitch, complain, crab, croak, gripe, grouse, growl, grumble, kick, kvetch, moan, squawk, squeal, wail, whimper, whine, yammer, yawp, yowl, murmur, mutter
    near: applaud, commend, compliment, praise, recommend, approve, back, champion, endorse, support

  4. 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"

    similar: apple-polish, bootlick, fawn, kowtow, suck (up), toady, truckle, curry favor, kiss up to
    related: drool, gush, slaver, slobber, endear, ingratiate, court, woo, adulate, idolize, worship, blandish, cajole, coax, flatter, overpraise, soft-soap, cower, cringe, grovel, abase, debase, demean, defer, submit, yield
    near: despise, disdain, scorn, gibe, jeer, scoff, brave, challenge, defy

  5. to experience concern or anxiety

    "there is no use in fussing over things that you can't control"

    similar: bother, fear, fret, stew, stress, sweat, trouble, worry, give a hang, sweat blood
    related: agonize, long, pine, yearn, chafe, despair
    near: accept, abide, bear, endure, stick out, stomach, sustain, take, tolerate

  6. to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy

    "you shouldn't let a little thing like that fuss you"

    similar: agitate, ail, alarm, bother, concern, derail, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distemper, distract, distress, disturb, exercise, flurry, frazzle, freak (out), hagride, perturb, undo, unhinge, unsettle, upset, weird out, worry
    related: aggravate, anger, annoy, bug, chafe, chivy, exasperate, fret, gall, get, grate, harass, harry, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, pester, pique, put off, put out, rile, vex, bedevil, haunt, plague, abash, confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, jar, mortify, nonplus, rattle, shake up, daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit, unnerve
    opposite: calm, compose, quiet, settle, soothe, tranquilize
    near: allay, alleviate, assuage, appease, conciliate, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate

Related Entry: Fuss (about or over) (verb)

Fuss (about or over) is a different word from Fuss. The synonyms below are for fuss (about or over), not for fuss.

  1. as in nitpick, carp (at)

    similar: carp (at), nitpick, dog, henpeck, hound, nag, needle, peck (at), annoy, badger, bait, bother, bug, chivy, harass, harry, hassle, irk, pester, plague, ride, vex, yap (at), egg, goad, incite, prod, prompt, spur, urge, exhort, insist, press, pressure, push, blandish, cajole, coax, wheedle, beg, importune, plead
    opposite: compliment, commend, laud, praise, recommend, tout, acclaim, applaud, build up, eulogize, extol

Related Entry: Kick up a fuss (phrase)

Kick up a fuss is a different word from Fuss. The synonyms below are for kick up a fuss, not for fuss.

  1. to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely

    "The kids were kicking up a fuss by the end of the day, so the family left the fair."

    similar: beef, bellyache, bitch, bleat, carp, caterwaul, complain, crab, croak, fuss, 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, yowl
    related: object (to), protest, quarrel (with), cavil, quibble, fret, stew, worry, blubber, cry, sob, bemoan, bewail, deplore, lament
    opposite: crow, delight, rejoice
    near: accept, bear, countenance, endure, take, tolerate, applaud, cheer, commend

Related Entry: Kicked up a fuss (phrase)

Kicked up a fuss is a different word from Fuss. The synonyms below are for kicked up a fuss, not for fuss.

  1. to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely

    "The kids were kicking up a fuss by the end of the day, so the family left the fair."

    similar: beefed, bellyached, bitched, bleated, carped, caterwauled, complained, crabbed, croaked, fussed, griped, grizzled, grouched, groused, growled, grumbled, grumped, hollered, inveighed, keened, kicked, kvetched, maundered (chiefly British), moaned, murmured, muttered, nagged, repined, screamed, squawked, squealed, wailed, whimpered, whined, whinged (British), yammered, yawped, yowled
    related: objected (to), protested, quarreled (with), caviled, quibbled, fretted, stewed, worried, blubbered, cried, sobbed, bemoaned, bewailed, deplored, lamented
    opposite: crowed, delighted, rejoiced
    near: accepted, bore, countenanced, endured, tolerated, took, applauded, cheered, commended

Related Entry: Kicks up a fuss (phrase)

Kicks up a fuss is a different word from Fuss. The synonyms below are for kicks up a fuss, not for fuss.

  1. to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely

    "The kids were kicking up a fuss by the end of the day, so the family left the fair."

    similar: beefs, bellyaches, bitches, bleats, carps, caterwauls, complains, crabs, croaks, fusses, gripes, grizzles, grouches, grouses, growls, grumbles, grumps, hollers, inveighs, keens, kicks, kvetches, maunders (chiefly British), moans, murmurs, mutters, nags, repines, screams, squawks, squeals, wails, whimpers, whines, whinges (British), yammers, yawps, yowls
    related: objects (to), protests, quarrels (with), cavils, quibbles, frets, stews, worries, blubbers, cries, sobs, bemoans, bewails, deplores, laments
    opposite: crows, delights, rejoices
    near: accepts, bears, countenances, endures, takes, tolerates, applauds, cheers, commends

Related Entry: Kicking up a fuss (phrase)

Kicking up a fuss is a different word from Fuss. The synonyms below are for kicking up a fuss, not for fuss.

  1. to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely

    "The kids were kicking up a fuss by the end of the day, so the family left the fair."

    similar: beefing, bellyaching, bitching, bleating, carping, caterwauling, complaining, crabbing, croaking, fussing, griping, grizzling, grouching, grousing, growling, grumbling, grumping, hollering, inveighing, keening, kicking, kvetching, maundering (chiefly British), moaning, murmuring, muttering, nagging, repining, screaming, squawking, squealing, wailing, whimpering, whinging (British), whining, yammering, yawping, yowling
    related: objecting (to), protesting, quarreling (with), caviling, quibbling, fretting, stewing, worrying, blubbering, crying, sobbing, bemoaning, bewailing, deploring, lamenting
    opposite: crowing, delighting, rejoicing
    near: accepting, bearing, countenancing, enduring, taking, tolerating, applauding, cheering, commending

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Fuss

The most common words with a similar meaning to Fuss:

Chiefly dialect: clutter, do
Chiefly British: kerfuffle, maunder
Scottish: splore
British: whinge
challenge, complaint, demur, demurral, demurrer, difficulty, exception, expostulation, kick, objection, protest, question, remonstrance, stink, dither, fluster, fret, huff, lather, pother, stew, sweat, swelter, swivet, tizzy, twitter, ado, alarums and excursions, ballyhoo, blather, bluster, bobbery, bother, bustle, clatter, coil, commotion, disturbance, foofaraw, fun

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Fuss

Words with the opposite meaning of Fuss:

crow, delight, rejoice, calm, compose, quiet, settle, soothe, tranquilize

Related Words for Fuss

compunction, doubt, misgiving, qualm, scruple, misunderstanding, argument, conflict, debate, dispute, dissent, hassle, quarrel, squabble, static, censure, criticism, defiance, disobedience, rebellion, distrust, distrustfulness, dubiety, dubitation, incertitude, indetermination, misdoubt, mistrust, mistrustfulness, reservation

Near Antonyms of Fuss

willingness, approval, sanction, acceptance, acquiescence, agreement, assent, compliance, obedience, hush, peace, quietude, rest, stillness, tranquility, order, orderliness, commendation, compliment, plaudit, acclaim, applause, praise, endorsement, accept, bear, countenance, endure, take, tolerate

Word Forms of Fuss

Inflections: fussed, fussing, fusses

Derived words: fusser (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Fuss

origin unknown

First known use: 1701

Words & Phrases Containing Fuss

fuss over, fuss with, raise a fuss, kick up a fuss/stink

Frequently Asked Questions about Fuss

What does "Fuss" mean?

"Fuss" means needless bustle or excitement. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: needless bustle or excitement. It has 10 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Fuss"?

Other words for "Fuss" include challenge, complaint, demur, demurral, demurrer, difficulty, exception and expostulation. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Fuss" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Fuss"?

There are 320 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Fuss". Common alternatives include challenge, complaint, demur, demurral, demurrer, difficulty, exception, expostulation, kick and objection.

What is the opposite of "Fuss"?

Antonyms of "Fuss" include crow, delight, rejoice, calm, compose, quiet, settle and soothe. Near antonyms include willingness, approval, sanction and acceptance.

How do you use "Fuss" in a sentence?

Examples of "Fuss" in a sentence: "she made a fuss over not being picked for the lead role in the play"; "the new parents are always in a fuss over whether the baby is dressed warmly enough"; "the company managed the move into the new building without any undue fuss".

Is "Fuss" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Fuss" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Fuss"?

"Fuss" is pronounced /ˈfəs/.

What is the origin of the word "Fuss"?

"Fuss" comes from origin unknown. First known use: 1701.