fuss

• POS: Noun, Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

fuss, n. [Cf. Fusome.].

•  A tumult; a bustle; unnecessary or annoying ado about trifles.  Byron.  [1913 Webster]

  "Zealously, assiduously, and with a minimum of fuss or noise"  [1913 Webster]
•  One who is unduly anxious about trifles; a fussbudget.  [1913 Webster]

  "I am a fuss and I don't deny it."  [1913 Webster]

fuss, v. i. 

 To be overbusy or unduly anxious about trifles; to make a bustle or ado.  Sir W. Scott.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

fuss, n. & v.
--n.
1 excited commotion, bustle, ostentatious or nervous activity.
2 a excessive concern about a trivial thing. b abundance of petty detail.
3 a sustained protest or dispute.
4 a person who fusses.
--v.
1 intr. a make a fuss. b busy oneself restlessly with trivial things. c (often foll. by about, up and down) move fussily.
2 tr. agitate, worry.

Idiom

make a fuss complain vigorously. make a fuss of (or over) treat (a person or animal) with great or excessive attention.

Derivative

fusser n.

Etymology

18th c.: perh. Anglo-Ir.

THESAURUS

fuss

addle, addle the wits, ado, agitate, agitation, air a grievance, altercation, argument, ball up, becloud, bedazzle, beef, befuddle, bellyache, bewilder, bicker, bickering, bitch, bleat, blood feud, blow off, bluff, bluster, bluster and bluff, blustering, boastfulness, bobbery, boil, boiling, bother, botheration, bravado, bravery, brawl, broil, brouhaha, bug, bullying, burn to, burst, bustle, buzz about, cacophony, carp at, chafe, chaos, chiffon, churn, clamor, clinquant, cloud, coil, commotion, complain, confuse, contention, controversy, conturbation, crab, croak, daze, dazzle, discombobulate, discomfit, discompose, discomposure, disconcert, disdain, disorder, disorganize, disorient, dispute, disquiet, disquietude, disturb, disturbance, dither, donnybrook, donnybrook fair, dustup, ebullition, electrify, embarrass, embroilment, entangle, excitement, falling-out, fanaticism, fanfaronade, feery-fary, ferment, fermentation, festoons, feud, fever, feverishness, fidgetiness, fidgets, fight, finery, fit, flap, fliting, flummox, flurry, fluster, flusteration, flustration, flutter, flutteration, flutteriness, fog, folderol, foment, fomentation, foofaraw, fracas, free-for-all, frenzy, fret, fret and fume, fret at, frilliness, frilling, frills, frills and furbelows, frippery, froufrou, fuddle, fuddy-duddy, fume, furor, furore, fury, fuss at, fuss-budget, fusser, fussiness, fusspot, gaiety, gaudery, get excited, gilding, gilt, gingerbread, granny, gripe, groan, grouch, grouse, growl, grumble, grunt, hardly wait, hassle, haste, hasten, hectoring, helter-skelter, henpeck, holler, howl, hubbub, hullabaloo, hurly-burly, hurrah, hurry, hurry about, imbroglio, inquietude, intimidation, itch to, jar, jitters, jolt, jump the gun, jumpiness, kick, lather, lodge a complaint, logomachy, maelstrom, make a fuss, malaise, maze, melee, miff, mist, mix up, moider, moil, muddle, murmur, mutter, nag, nerviness, nervosity, nervousness, nibble at, old maid, old woman, open quarrel, pandemonium, passion, paste, peck at, pell-mell, perplex, perturb, perturbation, pester, pick and choose, pick at, pick on, pinchbeck, polemic, pother, pucker, put out, quarrel, racket, rage, raise a howl, raise hell, rampage, rant, rattle, register a complaint, repine, restlessness, riot, rock, rodomontade, roil, rough-and-tumble, roughhouse, rout, row, ruckus, ruction, ruffle, rumpus, rush about, rush around, scorn, scramble, seethe, seething, shake, shake up, sharp words, shindig, shindy, shock, side, slanging match, snarl, spasm, spat, speed, splutter, spurn, spurt, sputter, squabble, squawk, squirm, stagger, stew, stink, stir, storminess, strife, superfluity, swagger, swashbucklery, sweat, sweat and stew, sweat it out, swirl, swivet, take on, tear around, tempestuousness, throw into confusion, tiff, tinsel, tizzy, to-do, trappings, trepidation, trepidity, trickery, trouble, trumpery, tumult, tumultuation, tumultuousness, turbidity, turbulence, turmoil, tussle, twitter, twitteration, unease, unquiet, unrest, unsettle, uproar, upset, vendetta, vortex, wail, wait impatiently, whine, whirl, whirlpool, whirlwind, whiz about, wildness, words, worry, wrangle, yammer, yap, yap at, yawp, yelp, zeal, zealousness

ROGET THESAURUS

fuss

Activity

N activity, briskness, liveliness, animation, life, vivacity, spirit, dash, energy, snap, vim, nimbleness, agility, smartness, quickness, velocity, alacrity, promptitude, despatch, dispatch, expedition, haste, punctuality, eagerness, zeal, ardor, perfervidum aingenium, empressement, earnestness, intentness, abandon, vigor, devotion, exertion, industry, assiduity, assiduousness, sedulity, laboriousness, drudgery, painstaking, diligence, perseverance, indefatigation, habits of business, vigilance, wakefulness, sleeplessness, restlessness, insomnia, pervigilium, insomnium, racketing, movement, bustle, stir, fuss, ado, bother, pottering, fidget, fidgetiness, flurry, officiousness, dabbling, meddling, interference, interposition, intermeddling, tampering with, intrigue, press of business, no sinecure, plenty to do, many irons in the fire, great doings, busy hum of men, battle of life, thick of the action, housewife, busy bee, new brooms, sharp fellow, sharp blade, devotee, enthusiast, zealot, meddler, intermeddler, intriguer, busybody, pickthank, hummer, hustler, live man, rustler, active, brisk, brisk as a lark, brisk as a bee, lively, animated, vivacious, alive, alive and kicking, frisky, spirited, stirring, nimble, nimble as a squirrel, agile, light-footed, nimble-footed, featly, tripping, quick, prompt, yare, instant, ready, alert, spry, sharp, smart, fast, quick as a lamplighter, expeditious, awake, broad awake, go-ahead, live wide-awake, forward, eager, strenuous, zealous, enterprising, in earnest, resolute, industrious, assiduous, diligent, sedulous, notable, painstaking, intent, indefatigable, unwearied, unsleeping, never tired, plodding, hard-working, businesslike, workaday, bustling, restless, restless as a hyena, fussy, fidgety, pottering, busy, busy as hen with one chicken, working, at work, on duty, in harness, up in arms, on one's legs, at call, up and doing, up and stirring, busy, occupied, hard at work, hard at it, up to one's ears in, full of business, busy as a bee, busy as a one-armed paperhanger, meddling, meddlesome, pushing, officious, overofficious, intrigant, astir, stirring, agoing, afoot, on foot, in full swing, eventful, on the alert, actively, with life and spirit, with might and main &c, with haste, with wings, full tilt, in mediis rebus, Int, be alive, look alive, look sharp!, move on, push on!, keep moving!, go ahead!, stir your stumps!, age quod agis!, jaldi!, karo!, step lively!, carpe diem, seize the day, nulla dies sine linea, nec mora nec requies, the plot thickens, No sooner said than done, veni vidi vici, catch a weasel asleep, abends wird der Faule fleissig, dictum ac factum, schwere Arbeit in der Jugend ist sanfte Ruhe im Al, hard work in youth means soft rest in age, the busy hum of men.

VB be active, busy oneself in, stir, stir about, stir one's stumps, bestir oneself, rouse oneself, speed, hasten, peg away, lay about one, bustle, fuss, raise up, kick up a dust, push, make a push, make a fuss, make a stir, go ahead, push forward, fight one's way, elbow one's way, make progress, toll, plod, persist, keep up the ball, keep the pot boiling, look sharp, have all one's eyes about one, rise, arouse oneself, hustle, get up early, be about, keep moving, steal a march, kill two birds with one stone, seize the opportunity, lose no time, not lose a moment, make the most of one's time, not suffer the grass to grow under one's feet, improve the shining hour, make short work of, dash off, make haste, do one's best take pains, do wonders, work wonders, have many irons in the fire, have one's hands full, have much on one's hands, have other things to do, have other fish to fry, be busy, not have a moment to spare, not have a moment that one can call one's own, have one's fling, run the round of, go all lengths, stick at nothing, run riot, outdo, overdo, overact, overlay, overshoot the mark, make a toil of a pleasure, have a hand in, take an active part, put in one's oar, have a finger in the pie, mix oneself up with, trouble, one's head about, intrigue, agitate, tamper with, meddle, moil, intermeddle, interfere, interpose, obtrude, poke one's nose in, thrust one's nose in.

Haste

N haste, urgency, despatch, dispatch, acceleration, spurt, spirt, forced march, rush, dash, speed, velocity, precipitancy, precipitation, precipitousness, impetuosity, brusquerie, hurry, drive, scramble, bustle, fuss, fidget, flurry, flutter, splutter, hasty, hurried, brusque, scrambling, cursory, precipitate, headlong, furious, boisterous, impetuous, hotheaded, feverish, fussy, pushing, in haste, in a hurry, in hot haste, in all haste, breathless, pressed for time, hard pressed, urgent, with haste, with all haste, with breathless speed, in haste, apace, amain, all at once, at short notice, immediately, posthaste, by cable, by express, by telegraph, by forced marches, hastily, precipitately, helter-skelter, hurry-skurry, holus-bolus, slapdash, slap-bang, full-tilt, full drive, heels over head, head and shoulders, headlong, a corps perdu, by fits and starts, by spurts, hop skip and jump, sauve qui peut, every man for himself, devil take the hindmost, no time to be lost, no sooner said than done, a word and a blow, haste makes waste, maggiore fretta minore atto, ohne Hast aber ohne Rast stand not upon the order, swift, swift, you dragons of the night.

Excitability

N excitability, impetuosity, vehemence, boisterousness, turbulence, impatience, intolerance, nonendurance, irritability, itching, wincing, disquiet, disquietude, restlessness, fidgets, fidgetiness, agitation, trepidation, perturbation, ruffle, hurry, fuss, flurry, fluster, flutter, pother, stew, ferment, whirl, buck fever, hurry-skurry, thrill, state of excitement, fever of excitement, transport, passion, excitement, flush, heat, fever, heat, fire, flame, fume, blood boiling, tumult, effervescence, ebullition, boiling over, whiff, gust, story, tempest, scene, breaking out, burst, fit, paroxysm, explosion, outbreak, outburst, agony, violence, fierceness, rage, fury, furor, furore, desperation, madness, distraction, raving, delirium, phrensy, frenzy, hysterics, intoxication, tearing passion, raging passion, anger, fascination, infatuation, fanaticism, Quixotism, Quixotry, tete montee, excitable, easily excited, in an excitable state, high-strung, irritable, impatient, intolerant, feverish, febrile, hysterical, delirious, mad, moody, maggoty- headed, unquiet, mercurial, electric, galvanic, hasty, hurried, restless, fidgety, fussy, chafing, startlish, mettlesome, high-mettled, skittish, vehement, demonstrative, violent, wild, furious, fierce, fiery, hot-headed, madcap, overzealous, enthusiastic, impassioned, fanatical, rabid, rampant, clamorous, uproarious, turbulent, tempestuous, tumultuary, boisterous, impulsive, impetuous, passionate, uncontrolled, uncontrollable, ungovernable, irrepressible, stanchless, inextinguishable, burning, simmering, volcanic, ready to burst forth, volatile, excited, exciting, Int, pish!, pshaw!, noli me tangere, filled with fury, rapt, inspir'd, maggiore fretta minore atto.

VB be impatient, not be able to bear, bear ill, wince, chafe, champ a bit, be in a stew, be out of all patience, fidget, fuss, not have a wink of sleep, toss on one's pillow, lose one's temper, break out, burst out, fly out, go off, fly off, fly off at a tangent, fly off the handle, lose one's cool, explode, flare up, flame up, fire up, burst into a flame, take fire, fire, burn, boil, boil over, foam, fume, rage, rave, rant, tear, go wild, run wild, run mad, go into hysterics, run riot, run amuck, battre la campagne, faire le diable a quatre, play the deuce.

Ostentation

N ostentation, display, show, flourish, parade, etalage, pomp, array, state, solemnity, dash, splash, splurge, glitter, strut, pomposity, pretense, pretensions, showing off, fuss, magnificence, splendor, coup d'oeil, grand doings, coup de theatre, stage effect, stage trick, claptrap, mise en scene, tour de force, chic, demonstration, flying colors, tomfoolery, flourish of trumpets, pageant, pageantry, spectacle, exhibition, exposition, procession, turn out, set out, grand function, f=ete, gala, field day, review, march past, promenade, insubstantial pageant, dress, court dress, full dress, evening dress, ball dress, fancy dress, tailoring, millinery, man millinery, frippery, foppery, equipage, ceremony, ceremonial, ritual, form, formality, etiquette, puncto, punctilio, punctiliousness, starched stateliness, stateliness, mummery, solemn mockery, mouth honor, attitudinarian, fop, ostentatious, showy, dashing, pretentious, janty, jaunty, grand, pompous, palatial, high-sounding, turgid gairish, garish, gaudy, gaudy as a peacock, gaudy as a butterfly, gaudy as a tulip, flaunting, flashing, flaming, glittering, gay, splendid, magnificent, sumptuous, theatrical, dramatic, spectacular, ceremonial, ritual, solemn, stately, majestic, formal, stiff, ceremonious, punctilious, starched, dressed to kill, dressed to the nines, decjed out, all decked out, en granite tenue, in best bib and tucker, in Sunday best, endimanch_e, chic, with flourish of trumpet, with beat of drum, with flying colors, ad captandum vulgus, honores mutant mores.

Agitation

N agitation, stir, tremor, shake, ripple, jog, jolt, jar, jerk, shock, succussion, trepidation, quiver, quaver, dance, jactitation, quassation, shuffling, twitter, flicker, flutter, turbulence, perturbation, commotion, turmoil, disquiet, tumult, tumultuation, hubbub, rout, bustle, fuss, racket, subsultus, staggers, megrims, epilepsy, fits, carphology, chorea, floccillation, the jerks, St. Vitus's dance, tilmus, spasm, throe, throb, palpitation, convulsion, disturbance, chaos, restlessness, ferment, fermentation, ebullition, effervescence, hurly-burly, cahotage, tempest, storm, ground swell, heavy sea, whirlpool, vortex, whirlwind, shaking, agitated tremulous, desultory, subsultory, saltatoric, quasative, shambling, giddy-paced, saltatory, convulsive, unquiet, restless, all of a twitter, by fits and starts, subsultorily, per saltum, hop skip and jump, in convulsions, in fits, tempete dans un verre d'eau.