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
as in huffing
to talk loudly and wildly
the rude customer blustered and yelled threats about lawsuits, but eventually left
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in blustery
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in brazen
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 blustering
Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2024
Arkansas Online, 24 July 2025
There’s a running gag in which each of the eight players gets to play the same role at different times, each bringing their own bluster to it and each wearing the same silly hat.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 22 July 2025
Tom Gliatto, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025
Denmark has become a leader in green energy—particularly from the winds that all too often bluster the flat land pinned between the North Sea and the Baltic.
—Matthew Tostevin, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for blustering
Noun
Without the distracting histrionics of the blustering Republican nominee, the Vance-Walz face-off could prove more substantive than the two presidential debates that took place this summer.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2024
Verb
Buddusky tries to fill the room with noise, jokes, bluster.
—Arkansas Online, 24 July 2025
There’s a running gag in which each of the eight players gets to play the same role at different times, each bringing their own bluster to it and each wearing the same silly hat.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 22 July 2025
Verb
Her boozy, blustering sarcasm should be entered into evidence as a blunt instrument.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025
Denmark has become a leader in green energy—particularly from the winds that all too often bluster the flat land pinned between the North Sea and the Baltic.
—Matthew Tostevin, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for blustering
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blustering
Noun
-
Trump ordered some 450 federal agents to patrol the nation's capital and target crime on Aug. 9 and 10 amid his escalating rhetoric condemning violent crime in the city.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
14 Aug. 2025
-
His rhetoric echoed that used by conservative politicians going back decades who have denounced American cities, especially those with majority non-white populations or led by progressive politicians, as lawless or crime-ridden and in need of outside intervention.—
Matt Brown,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
When the full-time whistle blew, there was a huge roar and fist pump from Tottenham’s Kevin Danso.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
31 July 2025
-
Williams roasted rising corner DJ James on the touchdown, which drew a roar from the crowd.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
30 July 2025
Noun
-
Kernodle put up a fight, and the commotion got the attention of surviving roommate Dylan Mortensen.—
Becca Longmire,
People.com,
1 Aug. 2025
-
There were two other roommates in the home at the time of the killings that both survived and reported seeing the suspect and hearing commotion that night.—
Gabe Whisnant
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 June 2025
Adjective
-
The parent company of Denver’s Hyde Park Jewelers still declines to discuss what happened and the Denver Police Department still refuses to release its reports, photos and videos from the brazen burglary, because its investigation is still open.—
Justin Wingerter,
Denver Post,
19 Aug. 2025
-
But the mob was discreet compared to Trump’s brazen, boastful ways.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
Pacino not only opted for the lesser beard, but also plays his bespectacled character without bombast.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
The lack of an internal-combustion engine means that any EV manufacturer needs to solve for additional NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness), so RBW went down the rabbit hole chasing creaks and rattles.—
Michael Teo Van Runkle,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
The only thing that cuts through the noise are stories.—
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady,
Billboard,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Diggs caused a stir during the spring when he was videotaped on a boat handing out a pink substance in baggies.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Love Is Blind premiered in February 2020 on Netflix, and instantly caused a stir.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
But Over-the-Rhine and Downtown have seen an uptick in violent crime.—
Brenda Ordonez,
The Enquirer,
21 Aug. 2025
-
Coleman said about 175 people convicted of violent crimes that took place before the law's effective date who had not yet been sentenced could have been eligible for early release.—
Lucas Aulbach,
The Courier-Journal,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Blustering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blustering. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share