bluster

blus·ter | \ ˈblə-stər

How to pronounce bluster (audio)

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blustered; blustering\ ˈblə-st(ə-)riŋ

How to pronounce blustering (audio)

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Definition of bluster

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : to talk or act with noisy swaggering threats brags and blusters but rarely does what he says he'll do

2a : to blow in stormy noisy gusts a cold, blustering wind

b : to be windy and boisterous … when autumn blusters and the orchard rocks.— Robert Browning

transitive verb

1 : to utter with noisy self-assertiveness "I don't want to hear it!" he blustered.

2 : to drive or force by blustering … trying to bluster us into the belief that they are much better than they look.— F. A. Swinnerton

bluster

Definition of bluster (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : a violent boisterous blowing … the strong breeze driving them was setting up a bluster on the water.— Rose Thurburn

2 : violent commotion They do their work without bluster or ostentation.— Stanley Walker

3 : loudly boastful or threatening speech growing tired of his macho bluster

Other Words from bluster Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about bluster

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Examples of bluster in a Sentence

Verb He brags and blusters, but he never really does what he says he'll do. “I don't want to hear it!” he blustered. The wind blustered through the valley. Noun We were all tired of his macho bluster. all the bluster in the campaign speech was intended to hide a lack of specifics

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Iran will bluster and threaten, but waging an all-out war with the U.S. would be suicidal, and Iran knows it. — Victor Davis Hanson, National Review, "Iran’s Options in a Showdown with America Are All Bad," 9 Jan. 2020 At times, the actor’s florid portrayal of the quirky, blustering general evokes, of all people, Frank Morgan’s Wizard of Oz. — Don Aucoin, BostonGlobe.com, "Subject and style are at war in flawed ‘Ben Butler’," 5 Aug. 2019 But as his host blustered, Mr Khan seemed to have little cause for concern. — The Economist, "America swaps its stick for a carrot in its dealings with Pakistan," 25 July 2019 Rather than endure a humiliating climb-down that would involve admission of cheating and the destruction of the new missiles, Putin is blustering new threats. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "As a Key Arms-Control Treaty Is Set to Die, Russia Threatens to Target U.S. with New Nukes," 20 Feb. 2019 And with that, Mai blustered through the mob with security on her tail. — Bianca Alysse, Billboard, "Ella Mai Wins New York City Over With Her Enchanting Concert at S.O.B.'s," 16 May 2018 During the same period, my stepmother got breast cancer, my mother-in-law had brain surgery, and Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un blustered on about nuclear war. — Jake Halpern, WSJ, "Drip, Drip: Why We Sweat the Small Stuff," 17 Apr. 2018 But as his host blustered, Mr Khan seemed to have little cause for concern. — The Economist, "America swaps its stick for a carrot in its dealings with Pakistan," 25 July 2019 Rather than endure a humiliating climb-down that would involve admission of cheating and the destruction of the new missiles, Putin is blustering new threats. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "As a Key Arms-Control Treaty Is Set to Die, Russia Threatens to Target U.S. with New Nukes," 20 Feb. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Johnson, for all his bluster, has tended to steer clear of conflict. — BostonGlobe.com, "Never have the fortunes of President Trump and Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain seemingly been so in sync — a trans-Atlantic psychodrama featuring two flamboyant, polarizing leaders, unfolding in parallel eruptions of vitriol, political jockeying, and unrelenting chaos.," 28 Sep. 2019 Their bluster belies the fact that the U.S. strategy in the Cold War was largely predicated on avoiding direct conflict. — Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, "The Future of America’s Contest with China," 6 Jan. 2020 His aversion to war, especially in the Middle East, was so great that his bluster and threats could be disregarded. — Walter Russell Mead, WSJ, "Pompeo Explains the Iran Policy," 6 Jan. 2020 For all its bluster, though, PIJ agreed to a ceasefire within 48 hours of the first shot. — The Economist, "A kaleidoscope of possibilities The politics surrounding an assassination and its aftermath in Gaza," 14 Nov. 2019 Under all his bluster and bile, Covington is a phenomenal competitor. — Dave Doyle, MMA Junkie, "Colby Covington's comeuppance trumps everything, even his show of heart at UFC 245 | Opinion," 15 Dec. 2019 The veiled threat came after months of sometimes diplomacy, sometimes bluster and little progress between the two nations. — John Bacon, USA TODAY, "Vase or missiles? US awaits Christmas 'gift' from North Korea's Kim," 25 Dec. 2019 Still, despite the occasional bluster social issues have never led to a country actually pulling out of Eurovision. — Vladimir Kozlov, Billboard, "Hungary Exits 2020 Eurovision Over Contest's LGBT-Friendly Policies: Report," 29 Nov. 2019 Uber’s story, which eventually led to Kalanick’s ouster as CEO, is a cautionary tale of how easily rock-n-roll, rule-breaking bluster can turn toxic. — Sarah Todd, Quartz, "The Steve Jobs speech that made Silicon Valley obsessed with pirates," 22 Oct. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bluster.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Bluster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bluster. Accessed 4 Apr. 2020.

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More Definitions for bluster

bluster

verb

English Language Learners Definition of bluster

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to speak in a loud and aggressive or threatening way

of wind : to blow loudly and violently

bluster

noun

English Language Learners Definition of bluster (Entry 2 of 2)

: words that are loud and aggressive

See the full definition for bluster in the English Language Learners Dictionary

bluster

blus·ter | \ ˈblə-stər

\

blustered; blustering

Kids Definition of bluster

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to talk or act in a noisy boastful way

2 : to blow hard and noisily strong winds blustering

bluster

Kids Definition of bluster (Entry 2 of 2)

: noisy violent action or speech

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