bustles 1 of 2

noun

plural of bustle
as in disturbances
a state of noisy, confused activity I couldn't concentrate in all the bustle of the student lounge

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bustles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of bustle
1
as in bursts
to be copiously supplied on Saturdays the city's downtown bustles with activity as a farmers' market sets up shop

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in scurries
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 bustles
Noun
Decked out in hoop skirts, bustles, and Confederate-era uniforms, 6,000 guests descended on the Municipal Auditorium, which had been transformed into a recreation of the film’s Monster Bazaar. — Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 3 Nov. 2026 At this week’s lavish season 4 premiere party at The Plaza, Carrie Coon, Cynthia Nixon, Audra McDonald, and their fellow stars left their bustles behind. — Paul Chi, Vogue, 1 Nov. 2026 In the video, shared by Nixon on Instagram, Benton, Baranski and others in full regalia (bustles, corsets, the whole nine yards) huddle around the iPad of John Douglas Thompson, who plays Peggy’s father, before the room explodes. — Alison Herman, Variety, 22 Oct. 2026 The clubby street-side Street Bar bustles with locals and visitors from dawn to dusk, while its rooftop restaurant, Contessa, is among the sceneiest spots in town. — Andrew Sessa, Robb Report, 2 July 2026 Set the scene Frenetic Sandton bustles with traffic, office and residential towers, and commercial enterprises. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026 Yes, this popular New England weekend getaway spot bustles with tourists in the summer months—for good reason. — Kara Williams, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026 The downtown bustles with businesses both old and new. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026 Temporary and permanent business closures across Minneapolis Ordinarily on weekends, Midtown Global Market bustles with live music, laughing children and a diverse array of businesses, says González. — Megan Sauer, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bustles
  1. disturbances
  2. bursts
  3. scurries
  4. commotions
  5. buzzes
  6. rushes
  7. stirs
  8. hums
Noun
  • Disturbing the peace … The measurements found that the ionospheric disturbances resulting from the Artemis II launch were more significant than any caused by other rocket launches to date.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Such disturbances could become more problematic as powerful rocket launches become more frequent, Lin told the publication.
    — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of disturbances
Verb
  • In these moments, the actor bursts through his roles as the Spider does through Reilly, unleashing the Grand Guignol excess that is Nicolas Cage.
    — Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Things quickly take a terrifying turn during surgery when a scorpion tail suddenly bursts through Perry’s back, attacking one of the surgeons mid-operation.
    — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026
Definition of bursts
Verb
  • Inside Botánica Santo Tomas in Wilton Manors, store owner Héctor Giovanni Pizarro Santana sweeps the floor as his tiny Chihuahua, Bella, scurries behind him.
    — Delia Sauer, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Meanwhile, in King’s Landing, Alicent scurries the great halls, desperate to shore up support for her plan to hand Rhaenyra the Red Keep.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 June 2026
Definition of scurries
Noun
  • Over the past year, men’s ski jumping has been marred by Norway’s cheating scandal and more recent genital manipulation rumors, which has become one of the early commotions of the Milano-Cortina Games.
    — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of commotions
Verb
  • Every time the twitchy little bug stops for a moment, Snaggletooth focuses to prepare a pounce, only to be thwarted as the fatty snack buzzes to another spot in the nest.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Many speak Russian, but also maintain their own native languages and traditions — dishing out their best gossip in the saunas while a Lakers game buzzes in the background.
    — Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of buzzes
Verb
  • Bengals running back Corey Dillon rushes for an NFL single-game record 278 yards in a 31-21 victory over the Denver Broncos.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Defensive coordinator Corey Batoon dialed up more blitzes and two-high safety coverages in the second half, switching from a first-half strategy that was full of single-high and some three-man rushes.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of rushes
Noun
  • Refrigerated pie crust helps this pie come together with just a few stirs of the whisk.
    — Patricia S York, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026
Definition of stirs
Verb
  • Beneath it all hums the climate crisis, driving hotter, drier weather and pushing the water cycle off balance.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026
  • But the area has history, with an old town dating back to the Etruscans and a tranquil port that hums to life each morning with fishing boats.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of hums

Browse Nearby Words

bustled
bustles
bustling
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bustles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bustles. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of cockamamie

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

The Words of the Week - Nov. 6

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
woman sitting on floor holding book in front of her face on pink background
Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz Needless to say, spoiler alert.
See All