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Synonyms

fuzzy

American  
[fuhz-ee] / ˈfʌz i /

adjective

fuzzier, fuzziest

  1. of the nature of or resembling fuzz.

    a soft, fuzzy material.

  2. covered with fuzz.

    a plant with broad, fuzzy leaves.

  3. indistinct; blurred.

    A fuzzy photograph usually means you jiggled the camera.
    Synonyms:
    foggy, unclear, vague, hazy

  4. muddleheaded or incoherent.

    a fuzzy thinker; to become fuzzy after one drink.
fuzzy British  
/ ˈfʌzɪ /

adjective

  1. of, resembling, or covered with fuzz

  2. indistinct; unclear or distorted

  3. not clearly thought out or expressed

  4. (of the hair) tightly curled or very wavy

  5. maths of or relating to a form of set theory in which set membership depends on a likelihood function

    fuzzy set

    fuzzy logic

  6. (of a computer program or system) designed to operate according to the principles of fuzzy logic, so as to be able to deal with data which is imprecise or has uncertain boundaries

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • fuzzily adverb
  • fuzziness noun

Etymology

Origin of fuzzy

First recorded in 1590–1600; fuzz 1 + -y 1

Explanation

Fuzzy things are soft, downy, or furry. Few people can resist the charms of a tiny, fuzzy kitten. Your dad's bearded face is fuzzy, and your favorite mohair sweater is also fuzzy. You can also use this adjective to mean "blurry" or "clouded," the way a badly lit scene in a movie might look fuzzy, with vague shapes moving in the dark. The inside of your head can feel fuzzy too, when you're groggy or dizzy: "I remember getting hit in the head by the soccer ball, but after that everything's fuzzy."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing fuzzy

Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -y

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Based on its features, scientists classified it as a thescelosaurid, a group of two-legged dinosaurs found in East Asia and North America that may have had fuzzy coverings.

From Science Daily • Apr. 1, 2026

A real showboater is someone whose very mention elicits warm, fuzzy memories of flamboyant flicks and trickery.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

Even if the administration’s explanation for war is fuzzy to the public, its economic cost is very clear.

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

Firefighters said they adhered to the LAFD’s strict chain of command and did not question higher-ups, while those in charge had fuzzy memories or shifted responsibility to others.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026

I search my mind, but it all comes back fuzzy.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.