fuss
Americannoun
-
an excessive display of anxious attention or activity; needless or useless bustle.
They made a fuss over the new baby.
- Antonyms:
- inactivity
-
an argument or noisy dispute.
They had a fuss about who should wash dishes.
-
a complaint or protest, especially about something relatively unimportant.
verb (used without object)
-
to make a fuss; make much ado about trifles.
You'll never finish the job if you fuss over details.
-
to complain especially about something relatively unimportant.
verb (used with object)
noun
-
nervous activity or agitation, esp when disproportionate or unnecessary
-
complaint or objection
he made a fuss over the bill
-
an exhibition of affection or admiration, esp if excessive
they made a great fuss over the new baby
-
a quarrel; dispute
verb
-
(intr) to worry unnecessarily
-
(intr) to be excessively concerned over trifles
-
to show great or excessive concern, affection, etc (for)
-
to quarrel violently
-
(tr) to bother (a person)
Other Word Forms
- fusser noun
- unfussed adjective
- unfussing adjective
Etymology
Origin of fuss
First recorded in 1695–1705; origin uncertain
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.
The author depicts all this vividly and with sardonic wit, but with little fuss or outrage.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026
How many conservatives click on a Tucker show simply to see what the fuss is about?
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026
One scene makes a fuss about Tatum playing a dog in the school musical.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026
"To think they took time to speak to me, a grandma from Wales. I thought 'why are they making a fuss of me'."
From BBC • Jan. 17, 2026
They didn’t think the mountain would make any more fuss.
From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone
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.
