faff
10 synonyms for faff, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A job that takes far more effort or time than it should.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A job that takes far more effort or time than it should.
“Adjusting this television is a bit of a faff.”
2. noun
A period of confused, frantic activity.
“She's in a total faff about tonight's dinner party.”
Etymology
Originally imitative of wind or puffs of air (see verb senses "to blow in puffs", "to move with a puff of air"). The noun is formed from the verb by conversion.
Full origin of faff →