What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
frilly
Example
The dress was adorned with frilly lace at the hem. [frilly: adjective]
Example
The frilly curtains added a touch of elegance to the room. [frilly: adjective]
fussy
Example
She's always fussy about the way her hair looks. [fussy: adjective]
Example
The instructions for assembling the furniture were too fussy. [fussy: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Fussy is more commonly used than frilly in everyday language. Fussy is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while frilly is less common and mainly used to describe clothing or fabric.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between frilly and fussy?
While frilly is typically associated with a casual and informal tone, fussy can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.