adj
prissy
PRIH-see
adj
1
Excessively prim, fussy, or particular about small details.
"He gave a prissy little frown at the mismatched napkins."
"Their prissy neighbor complained about every blade of grass out of place."
2
Lacking toughness or vigor; overly delicate or effeminate in manner (dated, often used disparagingly).
"The older sailors mocked him for being too prissy for the job."
How to Use Prissy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFussy and overly concerned with neatness or propriety, in a way that can come across as prudish.
Common pairings
prissy attitude
act prissy
a prissy little
Word Forms
prissier comparative, prissies plural, prissiest superlative
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Etymology
First recorded in the 1890s, likely blending "prim" with either "precise" or "sissy" — probably popularized by the American writer Joel Chandler Harris.