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fuss

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verb

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as in to rave
to make an exaggerated display of affection or enthusiasm fans fussing over their favorite rock guitarist

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to quibble
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

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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 fuss
Noun
Locked in a state of intergenerational co-dependence, Deborah and Ava fuss and fight, poke at each other’s insecurities, then reach common ground — all while one-upping each other with impossibly funny dialogue. Akiva Gottlieb, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025 This big panel enables a household to move a decent-size gaming display from one room to another with little fuss, or to wall-mount it. John Burek, PC Magazine, 18 May 2025
Verb
Video footage of the animals shows the eagle fussing at the coyote and trying to chase it off. Amanda Kooser, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025 Raina wasn’t too fussed who won but speaks passionately about how only those stories that reflect the uniqueness of the country and its cultures will make a mark beyond Canadian borders. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fuss
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fuss
Noun
  • In Los Angeles, Trump took the unusual step of nationalizing units of the California National Guard and also sent in U.S. Marines over the objections of Gavin Newsom, the state's Democratic governor.
    David Folkenflik, NPR, 16 June 2025
  • Protests erupted across the U.S., most notably in Los Angeles, where Trump federalized 4,000 National Guard members and sent in 700 Marines over the objections of state and local officials.
    Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 16 June 2025
Noun
  • The chute opens, and rambunctious No. 2 bursts out with an impatient huff.
    Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Volunteers were charged around 25 cents per huff, bringing in good profit for those who’d invested in the necessary gas tanks, tubes, and breathing bags.
    Oshan Jarow, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
Noun
  • Bass won’t hang around with that kind of commotion going on.
    Ted Janes, Outdoor Life, 29 May 2025
  • Moments after Tommy left the theater to start packing, Ellie and Jesse heard a commotion in the lobby.
    Alli Rosenbloom, CNN Money, 25 May 2025
Noun
  • On my final evening after the game drive, a flute whines and drums thump in the distance.
    Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 23 May 2025
  • Roxy doesn't take her eyes from the screen, and when Aishah turns the camera to show what's happening in the movie, Roxy can be heard making a noise somewhere between a growl and a whine.
    Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Patterson complained about her in-laws behind their backs Erin and Simon Patterson got married in 2007 and, after splitting and reconciling multiple times over the years, separated permanently in 2015.
    Rachel Treisman, NPR, 7 June 2025
  • Occasionally, drivers call the CHP to complain — especially during rush hour.
    Tina Li, Sacbee.com, 7 June 2025
Verb
  • Pacino’s The Ritual — which opened in theaters on Friday — has critics not raving, but ripping the celebrated actor’s exorcism film.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
  • But what really stands out is the fabric—it’s made from 100 percent polyester microfiber that’s brushed on both sides, giving it that buttery-soft feel shoppers can’t stop raving about.
    Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • That was the number that the secretary was quibbling over.
    / CBS News, CBS News, 1 June 2025
  • The new administration can quibble with the technical points of the listing, Koch said, but that will do nothing to change the reality: The bird is at risk of extinction and needs to be protected.
    Benji Jones, Vox, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • The early symptoms include muscle weakness, cramps, twitching, stiff muscles, speech challenges, trouble swallowing, and drooling.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025
  • Signs someone has swallowed a button battery include: noisy breathing, coughing, drooling, difficulty swallowing, a hoarse voice, vomiting, chest or abdominal pain, and gagging, coughing or choking with eating or drinking.
    Meredith Wilshere, People.com, 8 June 2025

Cite this Entry

“Fuss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fuss. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.

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