Synonyms of bustle

bustle 1 of 2

noun

as in commotion

a state of noisy, confused activity

I couldn't concentrate in all the bustle of the student lounge

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

bustle

2 of 2

verb

ˈbə-səl 

1

as in to burst

to be copiously supplied

on Saturdays the city's downtown bustles with activity as a farmers' market sets up shop

Synonyms & Similar Words

• burst
• buzz
• hum
• bulge
• brim
• swarm
• abound
• teem
• overflow
• crawl
• bristle
• pullulate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• need
• want
• lack

2

as in to rush

to proceed or move quickly

the hostess bustled about, taking care of last-minute preparations for the party

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rush
• hurry
• race
• speed
• scurry
• travel
• drive
• fly
• zip
• trot
• buzz
• chase
• hustle
• jump
• scoot
• run
• dart
• blow
• dash
• tear
• step
• breeze
• scuttle
• blast
• rustle
• motor
• whirl
• bowl
• zoom
• career
• bolt
• rip
• crack (on)
• jog
• hare
• belt
• jet
• course
• shoot
• ram
• whisk
• blaze
• barrel
• rocket
• hump
• bundle
• hasten
• hurtle
• highball
• hie
• hurl
• beat it
• nip
• get a move on
• pelt
• gallop
• make tracks
• careen
• bomb
• shake a leg
• step on it
• hotfoot (it)
• cannonball
• flit
• scamper
• stampede
• streak
• sprint
• beetle
• accelerate
• scuffle
• overtake
• step out
• whiz
• quicken
• outrun
• catch up
• outpace
• scud
• outstrip
• arrow
• fast-forward
• beeline

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• creep
• drag
• hang (around or out)
• crawl
• lag
• linger
• poke
• dawdle
• stroll
• loiter
• tarry
• shuffle
• poke
• amble
• slow (down or up)
• saunter
• lumber
• plod
• decelerate
• dillydally
• dally

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bustle

Noun

All of it was designed to offer a welcome break from the city’s bustle. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 25 July 2026

The Away Spa offers an escape from the urban bustle with a series of pools, jacuzzis, saunas and steam rooms. — Jaymi McCann, TheWeek, 21 July 2026

Verb

Accommodations on the backside of the building boast unobstructed views of Monterey Bay, and the rest overlook bustling Cannery Row. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 July 2026

The most serious damage was at the Aeon Mall shopping center in the town of Kashima, which was bustling with thousands of people when the quake struck in the late afternoon. — CBS News, 30 July 2026