as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity
I couldn't concentrate in all the bustle of the student lounge
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bustle
Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
Soon, a few of us were whisked away for a private tour of the hustle-and-bustle production set.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 28 Apr. 2026
Jacqueline Dole, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2026
In the usually bustling produce market in Sabra, south of Beirut, vendor Ahmad al-Farra looked dejected as an elderly woman shopping for watermelon, tomatoes and potatoes walked away without buying anything after checking the price tags.
—Malak Harb, Fortune, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for bustle
Noun
Over the years, various actors, musicians and creators have opened up about their decision to leave the hustle and bustle of the big city to move their families to smaller towns.
—Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
Soon, a few of us were whisked away for a private tour of the hustle-and-bustle production set.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
Located roughly 30 minutes south of Portland, Biddeford was once a bustling mill town with a robust textile manufacturing industry.
—Jacqueline Dole, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2026
In the usually bustling produce market in Sabra, south of Beirut, vendor Ahmad al-Farra looked dejected as an elderly woman shopping for watermelon, tomatoes and potatoes walked away without buying anything after checking the price tags.
—Malak Harb, Fortune, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for bustle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bustle
Noun
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Those seated in the gunner or engineer positions will also be treated to additional clips of Grogu via their adjacent flight panels, the young alien here portrayed as something of a playful pet of a child who is exaggeratedly chill during the commotion.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
21 May 2026
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Someone would start a cheer, others would join in, and the commotion would attract a new wave of attention, phones open to streaming apps, the entire scene straddling the line between performance and audience.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
20 May 2026
Verb
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Researchers believe huge quantities of groundwater likely burst onto the surface in a series of catastrophic floods that surged downhill and rapidly carved the waterworn valleys visible today.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
15 May 2026
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But Donald used that size mismatch to his advantage, leveraging an unprecedented first step and incredible agility to burst past linemen and attack the offense.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Mary was a vacuum—conceived as little more than an American everywoman—and Lasser rushed to fill that void with her own experience.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
In the second game, Fields had a rushing touchdown and defensive end Donte Campbell had a fumble recovery for a touchdown.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 May 2026
Noun
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This misalignment, sustained over years, is associated with elevated risk for depression, metabolic disturbance and impaired cognition.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
Though signals may overlap (compaction, moisture, and disturbance, after all, can exist all at once), the presence of particular weeds, without overanalyzing them, can lend helpful clues to what your desirable garden plants need done in order to thrive.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
18 May 2026
Verb
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If outdoor dining is being ruined by buzzing pests, the Gootop bug zapper may be the easiest way to reclaim your outdoor space (and your cheeseburger)!—
Jeaneen Russell,
PEOPLE,
20 May 2026
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Though Madden’s extension type has yet to be confirmed, the wider beauty world has been buzzing about K-tips, otherwise known as Keratin tips.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
19 May 2026
Verb
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Set over the course of eight years (including the lockdown period during COVID), Herry’s film unfolds fluidly, neither hurrying scenes up unnecessarily, nor lingering too long on any incident.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
17 May 2026
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But hurry — popular sizes are selling out fast.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
Noun
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Frozen fresh peppers are excellent for stir frys, soups, stews, sauces, and more.—
Aly Walansky,
Southern Living,
19 May 2026
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Seemingly sporting strange rooftop structures, these vehicles are causing something of a stir in the news cycle.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Ventilators hummed in an intensive care unit.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
22 May 2026
-
The Hidden Liability In Your Basement For decades, the physical server room was treated as a necessary evil—rows of network video recorders (NVRs) humming in back offices, consulted only after something went wrong and then forgotten.—
Robert Messer,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bustle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bustle. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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