✅ A fuss is a noisy dispute, argument, or complaint, especially over something trivial or unimportant (They made a fuss over who should have the last cupcake).

✅ A ruckus is a commotion or a heated controversy or argument (The press release caused a ruckus in the tech industry).

✅ Fuss and ruckus both refer to heated commotions, controversies, and disputes.

✅ Fuss particularly suggests an unnecessary dispute, whereas ruckus suggests an intense controversy.

✅ Pressure refers to a force or influence that causes you to feel compelled, constrained, or mentally under stress (the pressures of motherhood; I was under a lot of pressure at school).

✅ Strain refers to mental, physical, or emotional exertion (a strain on my patience; I’ve been feeling under a lot of strain).

✅ Pressure and strain both refer to an external force or influence causing you emotional, mental, or physical difficulty.

✅ Pressure usually suggests that the external force would be difficult for anyone, whereas strain suggests that the force is worse because of how it weighs on your feelings (The job involves dealing with a lot of pressure; The strain of my illness made it difficult to work).

✅ Loot means to come into a place and take things by force (The room was empty and had clearly been looted).

✅ Plunder means to openly rob people of their belongings by force, usually in an organized way that affects many people at the same time (The bandits plundered the small village).

✅ Both words can also refer to the things that have been taken (We have to hide the loot; The cave was full of plunder).

✅ However, loot can also refer to stealing more generally, especially when a lot of things are taken (The gang looted the art gallery).