Fussiness: meaning, definitions and examples

Fussiness is best used to describe someone who is very picky or particular, often about minor details. This term is often used to describe children or adults who are hard to please.

• Her fussiness about food makes it hard to go out to dinner with her.
• The baby's fussiness at bedtime can be exhausting.

Irritability describes a general state of being easily annoyed or aggravated. It is commonly used in the context of emotional or physical states, such as when someone is tired or under a lot of stress.

• His irritability might be due to lack of sleep.
• Pregnant women often experience increased irritability.

Sensitivity refers to a heightened awareness or response to stimuli, both physically and emotionally. It can be positive or negative, depending on the situation. This term is often used when discussing emotional reactions, skin reactions, and other heightened responses.

• She has a lot of sensitivity to criticism.
• People with this skin condition have increased sensitivity to sunlight.

Used to describe someone who is overly concerned with small or unimportant details. It often has a slightly negative connotation, suggesting that the person is hard to please.

• Children are known for their fussiness when it comes to food
• Her fussiness about cleanliness made it difficult for guests to feel comfortable

Typically used to describe people, especially children, who are very selective or particular about their preferences, mostly related to food. This term can be neutral or slightly negative.

• His pickiness about vegetables is why he's not eating his salad
• Her pickiness when shopping for clothes made the process take much longer

Similar to fussiness, this word is used to describe someone who is very hard to satisfy because they have very specific and often unreasonable requirements.

• His finickiness about his coffee meant he would only drink it if it were brewed exactly his way
• The cat's finickiness with food made it hard to find something it liked

This word is often used to describe someone who is overly concerned with small details or who is difficult to please. It can be used in both negative and neutral contexts depending on the tone.

• Her fussiness made planning the event very challenging.
• His fussiness about cleanliness is well-known among his friends.

This is a more colloquial term, often used in a slightly humorous or informal context to describe someone who makes a big deal out of minor issues or complaints frequently. It is typically used in a mildly negative or teasing manner.

• Stop being such a fussbudget and just enjoy the picnic.
• My brother is a real fussbudget when it comes to food.

This term refers to the act of looking for small or insignificant errors or faults, often in a critical or petty manner. It is usually used in a negative context to describe someone's overly critical behavior.

• Her nitpicking was starting to annoy everyone in the team.
• I appreciate your feedback, but let's not get into nitpicking over small details.