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
Relevance
2
as in roar
loud, confused, and usually inharmonious sound
I can't work with all the bluster in here
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to huff
to talk loudly and wildly
the rude customer blustered and yelled threats about lawsuits, but eventually left
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bluster
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 16 Aug. 2025
Alexander Isak’s prospective move from Newcastle United to Liverpool has developed into the transfer saga of the summer, yet for all the noise and bluster, nothing has actually happened as of yet.
—Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
David E. Sanger, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2025
He’s accompanied on this journey by phonk vet DJ Smokey, a blustering mixtape host treating the occasion like a forensic investigation into the murder of the artist.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bluster
Noun
Advertisement The reality is that despite Putin’s tough guy bluster, Putin is a failure economically and militarily, and Putin’s house of cards is far more vulnerable than many realize.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 16 Aug. 2025
Alexander Isak’s prospective move from Newcastle United to Liverpool has developed into the transfer saga of the summer, yet for all the noise and bluster, nothing has actually happened as of yet.
—Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
Verb
So far, the result is a blitz of mixed messages, conflicting signals and blustering threats, not unlike the way Mr. Trump and his aides talk about their ever-evolving tariff strategy.
—David E. Sanger, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2025
He’s accompanied on this journey by phonk vet DJ Smokey, a blustering mixtape host treating the occasion like a forensic investigation into the murder of the artist.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bluster
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bluster
Noun
-
Dabrowski also aligned himself with the controversial Awake Illinois organization, a group that has gained notoriety for its anti-transgender rhetoric and activities.—
Rick Pearson,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Aug. 2025
-
His hardline rhetoric came after a spate of protests outside hotels that are used to house asylum seekers while their claims are processed.—
Olivia Kemp,
CNN Money,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Case managers had a hard time being heard over the roar of traffic, officials said.—
Blake Nelson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Aug. 2025
-
Sports fans will love how the AI Sports Mode sharpens every detail of the game while boosting the roar of the crowd for a true arena vibe.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
But add to the equation local merchants and eateries and the vibes abounded, which is not to say the cause got lost in the commotion.—
Shirley Halperin,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Aug. 2025
-
All the commotion around them was stifling.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The hugs stop and the arguments, the phone obsession, and the huffing cold shoulder starts.—
Cyndy Etler,
Hartford Courant,
28 July 2025
-
Fellow porters huffing their way up a hillside; the stars twinkling above the desert sand; the layered waves of Caroline Polachek’s staggeringly beautiful title song cresting over the horizon at just the right moment.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
23 June 2025
Noun
-
Unconstrained, Iran’s nuclear program continued to expand as the anti-American bombast and Holocaust denial of the new Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, made diplomacy much more difficult.—
Vali Nasr,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Aug. 2025
-
For all his bombast online, for instance, Marcus has said that today’s chatbots are a legitimate breakthrough, just far from the breakthrough; for all of Altman’s petulance, OpenAI’s latest large reasoning models rely on new approaches not so dissimilar from Marcus’s own, decades-old ideas.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
8 July 2025
Noun
-
According to the website linked on the signs, the group of Association residents oppose the high-density development in the rural environment with concerns about traffic congestion and noise and light pollution.—
Karen Billing,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Sep. 2025
-
If your dog is a little nervous about the groomer, this vacuum boasts a low-noise design with only 59 dB, plus three adjustable suction levels to suit your dog’s needs.—
Jessie Quinn,
USA Today,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Florida’s Surgeon General, Joseph Ladapo, created a stir this week suggesting the state eliminate all school vaccine requirements.—
Judy Stone,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
When season 1 premiered, Noah and Joanne’s first kiss caused quite the stir.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This display exposes the campaign’s braggadocio.—
Tom Bartlett,
The Atlantic,
1 Sep. 2025
-
Gulf Coast braggadocio, coupled with an incredibly effective government relations team, makes Bollinger an exciting-sounding partner.—
Craig Hooper,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bluster.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bluster. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share