1
as in rhetoric
boastful speech or writing
all the bluster in the campaign speech was intended to hide a lack of specifics
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to huff
to talk loudly and wildly
the rude customer blustered and yelled threats about lawsuits, but eventually left
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of bluster
Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
Of course, his leadership style is not just bluster and rah-rah speeches.
—The Athletic Peak Staff, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025
None of them are in any sense blustering, bomb-throwing analogues to Trump.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for bluster
Noun
Culturally, this typically gets framed as alpha-male, gym-rat bluster about bootstrapping.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
Of course, his leadership style is not just bluster and rah-rah speeches.
—The Athletic Peak Staff, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
Verb
And a summit in the US state of Alaska, of all places, is red meat to resurgent Russian nationalists who still bluster about the territory being rightfully theirs.
—Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025
None of them are in any sense blustering, bomb-throwing analogues to Trump.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for bluster
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bluster
Noun
-
Barack Obama’s administration detained unaccompanied children and families despite humanitarian rhetoric, contradicting Clinton’s assertion that children were not placed in detention camps.—
Fidel Martinez,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The report notes despite the political rhetoric, clean energy stocks have outperformed traditional energy by over 45% since early 2025, driven largely by macroeconomic and interest rate trends rather than by partisan politics.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Could Jacob Bridgeman hear the roars for Rory McIlroy’s 30-foot make and still finish?—
Brody Miller,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
-
With his athleticism and his bravado—his programs featured the world’s only quad axel and the only backflip, which always elicited a roar from the crowd despite earning him no points—Malinin looked poised not only to win but also to bring men’s figure skating into the mainstream.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The sound of screeching truck brakes comes from behind, followed by a massive commotion.—
Wyles Daniel,
Sacbee.com,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Soon her two boys, Noah and Nico, found her – unsure about the commotion and clearly uninterested in the magnitude of the moment.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
While a bunch of gatekeeping owners were huffing about clarity, the invisible architect kept building without drawing attention.—
Jerry Brewer,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
-
David walks out of the kitchen and Moira huffs and takes his spot over the pot.—
Sabrina Weiss,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Too big, too flashy, too red, too everything — a tacky pile of bombast in the vein of the Fontainebleau Hotel.—
Christopher Robbins,
Curbed,
9 Feb. 2026
-
And Geoff Zanelli’s score ranges effectively from ominous electronica to fun orchestral bombast.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In the consumer market, that silence has created noise.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Ideal for bedrooms, nurseries, apartments with older doors, and homes with hardwood or tile floors, this $4 draft stopper can stop the chilly air from entering, while also muffling outside noises and blocking dust, pollen, and pests.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Police responded to a disturbance in the 900 Block of Chateau Park Drive, the police department said in a statement.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Feb. 2026
-
During the investigation, the deputies learned that a group of people was driving to the coast when a disturbance occurred inside the vehicle.—
Nollyanne Delacruz,
Mercury News,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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There is a flattering, if occasionally self-deprecating, account of his upbringing; a recap of his political successes told with a careful balance of humility and braggadocio; and, perhaps most of all, a sustained effort to define his brand for voters.—
Andrew Silow-Carroll,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Feb. 2026
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Timmy’s Marty promotional tour was loud and brash — viral Zoom videos, Soulja Boy routines in Brazil, standing atop the Sphere in Las Vegas — and had a lot of people wondering if his decision to adopt a Marty Mauser-style braggadocio would ultimately hurt his chances to win over Oscar voters.—
Vulture Editors,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bluster.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bluster. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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