1
as in buzzed
to be copiously supplied
on Saturdays the city's downtown bustles with activity as a farmers' market sets up shop
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hurried
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
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 bustled
Much like their youthful, emotional heartbeats, malls in the ’80s and ’90s bustled, becoming as quintessential to American culture as hot dogs and apple pie.
—
Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
Local media bustled about the sidelines, snapping photos and recording B-roll, alongside a handful of soccer bloggers and influencers who had come from all around the world.
—Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 21 Apr. 2026
Tables packed with fresh produce and homemade goods were vibrantly on display as shoppers bustled on a brisk and sunny February morning.
—Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 28 Feb. 2026
Somali restaurants and coffee shops that once bustled with patrons were nearly empty last week and people are scared to show up to their jobs.
—Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN Money, 4 Jan. 2026
Throughout the next hour, the restaurant bustled with orders for burritos, nachos and other Latin street food offerings as the few workers spoke to each other in Spanish.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 19 Nov. 2025
Two of Los Gatos’ busiest streets bustled louder than usual as hundreds of protesters turned out for No Kings demonstrations and drivers honked at them in support.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
The original resort launched in 2004 as quarters for Dubai’s equestrian set and bustled with the clamor of a working stable.
—Emma Pearson, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Sep. 2025
Balloons hung in the hallway and loud pop music filled the atrium Tuesday morning at Dobie Middle School as students bustled in for the first day of classes.
—Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 19 Aug. 2025
Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
Local media bustled about the sidelines, snapping photos and recording B-roll, alongside a handful of soccer bloggers and influencers who had come from all around the world.
—Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 21 Apr. 2026
Tables packed with fresh produce and homemade goods were vibrantly on display as shoppers bustled on a brisk and sunny February morning.
—Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 28 Feb. 2026
Somali restaurants and coffee shops that once bustled with patrons were nearly empty last week and people are scared to show up to their jobs.
—Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN Money, 4 Jan. 2026
Throughout the next hour, the restaurant bustled with orders for burritos, nachos and other Latin street food offerings as the few workers spoke to each other in Spanish.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 19 Nov. 2025
Two of Los Gatos’ busiest streets bustled louder than usual as hundreds of protesters turned out for No Kings demonstrations and drivers honked at them in support.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
The original resort launched in 2004 as quarters for Dubai’s equestrian set and bustled with the clamor of a working stable.
—Emma Pearson, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Sep. 2025
Balloons hung in the hallway and loud pop music filled the atrium Tuesday morning at Dobie Middle School as students bustled in for the first day of classes.
—Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bustled
Verb
-
The girls, buzzed on miniature cans of soda, lingered in the liminal space between rolling credits and parental pickup.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
At the time of his murder, Mizell was in a lounge on the studio’s second floor with another man when two men were buzzed in.—
Andrew Flanagan,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Her friend hurried over, not to look up, but to look down — both of them staring at a glowing screen while, just beyond them, Crux was visible in the night sky.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
-
The state legislature hurried to pass a law giving fertility clinics legal immunity.—
Romy Ellenbogen,
Miami Herald,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
Wittorp scurried over to a curtained side entrance.—
Jane Bua,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
-
After Malik closed out the fundraiser with a stump speech calling for taxing the rich, Johnson drove off in a black Porsche Cayenne, and a plump rat scurried by the venue’s entrance.—
Maxwell Adler,
Vanity Fair,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
To the right hummed Interstate 190; beyond the highway, the Niagara River; beyond the river, Canada.—
Dan Barry,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
-
Others gathered in clusters of desks, showing their artwork to friends as lo-fi music hummed in the background.—
Noah Alcala Bach,
San Antonio Express-News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Sam El-Said and his wife were riding scooters after a date night along the boardwalk when a swarm of several dozen teenagers on e-bikes sped by them.—
Rina Nakano,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
-
The scaled down and sped up microhubs that are designed to handle 30-minute orders represent another step in Amazon’s pursuit.—
Anne D’Innocenzio,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
The Apple engineers’ eyes bulged in astonishment.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Angelenos’ eyes bulged at the $1,500-a-head price tag.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Longet and Williams were watching the speech from the senator's suite a few floors above and later rushed to the Good Samaritan Hospital to be with the Kennedy family until he was pronounced dead on June 6.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
-
Some parents fear the damage is already done, while others are worried that the process feels rushed, but almost everybody has concerns about a technology that expands exponentially every day.—
Doug Williams,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bustled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bustled. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
