1
as in busy
involved in often constant activity
a bustling greeter was there to welcome guests to the grand opening
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in buzzing
marked by much life, movement, or activity
a bustling shopping center during the Christmas season
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in bursting
to be copiously supplied
on Saturdays the city's downtown bustles with activity as a farmers' market sets up shop
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hurrying
to proceed or move quickly
the hostess bustled about, taking care of last-minute preparations for the party
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bustling
Livia Caligor, Architectural Digest, 23 Dec. 2025
Benin City, in southern Nigeria, has risen from a history marked by conquest and loss to become a bustling urban center of more than 2 million residents.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026
Along with the likes of InterTalent, YMU and MVE, MonRae is one of a number of digital agencies competing for talent in London’s bustling scene.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bustling
Adjective
Some of us chase fully immersive, off-the-grid, barefoot escapes where time dissolves entirely; others want a bustling city hotel with a strong bar scene and museums just a few blocks away.
—Livia Caligor, Architectural Digest, 23 Dec. 2025
Benin City, in southern Nigeria, has risen from a history marked by conquest and loss to become a bustling urban center of more than 2 million residents.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
Verb
Not to mention, head to bustling cities like Los Angeles, Seattle, Atlanta, San Francisco, Phoenix, Houston, Las Vegas, and Minneapolis for flight prices starting at $49.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026
Along with the likes of InterTalent, YMU and MVE, MonRae is one of a number of digital agencies competing for talent in London’s bustling scene.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bustling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bustling
Adjective
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Visiting the restaurant has become an expression of the purest form of Panthers fandom — and that’s helped make this week quite busy ahead of the Panthers’ first home playoff game in 10 years.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Jan. 2026
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Those who remain are concentrated in Venezuela’s cities, including its capital, Caracas, where the street market in the Catia neighborhood once was so busy that shoppers bumped into one another and dodged oncoming traffic.—
Regina Garcia Cano,
Fortune,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Once a pivotal railway stop, later the site of world-stage events, like the 1996 Olympic Games, and most recently, a filming epicenter, Conyers has blossomed into a buzzing destination, drawing visitors from across the globe.—
Nicole Letts,
Southern Living,
3 Jan. 2026
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The cancellations made up nearly half of the airline’s flight schedule during the buzzing holiday season.—
Pete Muntean,
CNN Money,
7 Dec. 2025
Verb
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These bold compositions linger in the dense winter air, unfolding slowly rather than bursting with bright notes.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
14 Jan. 2026
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Is your play area bursting at the seams?—
Jennifer Prince,
Southern Living,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But one weekend in November, people who would typically be hurrying by, staring down at their phones, stopped.—
The Editors,
Curbed,
15 Dec. 2025
-
Butler began hurrying Boise State and pushing up the tempo, which allowed the Broncos to score off several backdoor cuts and slip screens for big dunks and layups at the rim.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
6 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Those late audits have caused ongoing comments by engaged residents who are perplexed that year after year the town’s government is not able to provide the same audit the state’s other 168 municipalities complete and submit to the public and the state’s budget office.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
10 Jan. 2026
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Guiliani said her students have been more engaged and focused.—
Ryan Hughes,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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With their vibrant pink color and unusual picotee pattern, the flowers of 'Supra Cherry' picotee dianthus will command attention in the garden.—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Jan. 2026
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Shop it in a set of two or pick up a single jar, and choose from two colors, including this deep green or vibrant orange.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The neighborhood/area The ocean is your playground here, and snorkelers and divers will find plenty of reasons to explore the teeming coral reefs below.—
Kristin Braswell,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Dec. 2025
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This is a frankly majestic imagining of 16th-century feudal Japan filled with paddy fields, winding valleys, windswept plains, and teeming towns all knitted together into a virtual tapestry of striking geographic verisimilitude.—
Lewis Gordon,
Vulture,
3 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Thirasak Wongsoongnern, a member of staff on the train, told local media outlet Thairath Online, that the train had been traveling at around 74mph when the tragedy occurred, according to the BBC.—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
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Vandenberg, 49, was planning on traveling from El Paso to San Diego to unleash harmful fireworks at a June 14 protest, prosecutors said.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bustling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bustling. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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