Synonyms of bluster

bluster 1 of 2

noun

1

as in rhetoric

boastful speech or writing

all the bluster in the campaign speech was intended to hide a lack of specifics

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rhetoric
• bombast
• braggadocio
• chatter
• brag
• rodomontade
• magniloquence
• grandiloquence
• rant
• hot air
• bull
• gasconade
• gas
• fanfaronade
• pomposity
• babble
• oratory
• prattle
• jawing
• verbosity
• rhapsody
• turgidity
• swagger
• gabble
• wind
• cockalorum
• jabber
• windiness
• gibber
• prating
• gibberish
• bloviation
• drivel
• patter
• egotism
• blab
• yammering
• vaunt
• self-importance
• self-conceit

2

as in roar

loud, confused, and usually inharmonious sound

I can't work with all the bluster in here

Synonyms & Similar Words

• roar
• noise
• rattle
• chatter
• commotion
• cacophony
• clamor
• din
• clatter
• racket
• blare
• clangor
• bruit
• discordance
• brawl
• babel
• katzenjammer
• bang
• dissonance
• discord
• decibel(s)
• bowwow
• hullabaloo
• hubbub
• tumult
• furor
• rumpus
• boom
• hurly-burly
• jangle
• uproar
• blast
• clap
• crash
• crack

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• silence
• still
• quiet
• stillness
• lull
• calm
• hush
• silentness
• quietude
• serenity
• tranquility

3

as in commotion

a state of noisy, confused activity

a mayor who got things done without a lot of bluster and self-serving publicity

Synonyms & Similar Words

• commotion
• disturbance
• stir
• fuss
• hurry
• turmoil
• noise
• storm
• racket
• clatter
• hurricane
• blather
• row
• hoopla
• fun
• ballyhoo
• clutter
• roar
• to-do
• hullabaloo
• bustle
• hubbub
• tumult
• ado
• squall
• bother
• zoo
• pandemonium
• ruckus
• ruction
• furore
• flurry
• furor
• welter
• rumpus
• kerfuffle
• coil
• pother
• stew
• uproar
• foofaraw
• hurly-burly
• shindy
• hoo-ha
• whirl
• helter-skelter
• bobbery
• hurly
• hubble-bubble
• splore
• upheaval
• moil
• cacophony
• howl
• clamor
• alarums and excursions
• hurry-scurry
• din
• williwaw
• outcry
• do
• unrest
• disorder
• outburst
• hue and cry
• eruption
• flutter
• brawl
• outbreak
• scuffle
• fray
• melee
• fracas
• fever
• fret
• tizzy
• dither
• lather
• flare-up
• hassle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rest
• peace
• calm
• quiet
• stillness
• hush
• tranquility
• quietude
• order
• orderliness

bluster

2 of 2

verb

ˈblə-stər 

as in to huff

to talk loudly and wildly

the rude customer blustered and yelled threats about lawsuits, but eventually left

Synonyms & Similar Words

• huff
• rave
• rant
• fulminate
• spout
• speak out
• speak up
• rage
• storm
• blare
• harangue
• sound off
• pontificate
• declaim
• bloviate
• mouth (off)
• blurt (out)
• orate
• blow
• carry on
• bolt
• take on

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• murmur
• mutter
• whisper
• grunt
• breathe
• slur

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bluster

Noun

Western, for his part, had by this time recovered something of his usual bluster, and began again upon the subject of Blifil, commending his estate and his family with great earnestness, as though these considerations alone ought to have settled the matter long since. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 2 June 2026

Behind the pomp and bluster of the Luce launch, there are more than a few nervous automotive executives. — Jeremy White, Wired News, 27 May 2026

Verb

Trump has blustered, contradicted himself publicly, ramped-up rhetorically and then backed down, mostly without receiving obvious concessions. — Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026

Matty is a blustering, blue-collar Bostonian who sees himself as the unequivocal boss of the house and frequently clashes with his liberal niece. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 15 Jan. 2026