1
as in busy
involved in often constant activity
a bustling greeter was there to welcome guests to the grand opening
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of bustling
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Dec. 2025
Located in the bustling old city, the Muslim Library, originally built in 1793, houses more than 2,000 books in Persian, Arabic, and Turkish.
—Sarah Souli, Travel + Leisure, 28 Dec. 2025
Stephanie Sporn, Vogue, 27 Jan. 2026
This is a wealthy neighborhood, bustling with shoppers.
—Hari Kunzru, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bustling
Adjective
Excavations at the discovery site, Khok Kruat rock formation, have revealed a bustling Cretaceous ecosystem.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Dec. 2025
Located in the bustling old city, the Muslim Library, originally built in 1793, houses more than 2,000 books in Persian, Arabic, and Turkish.
—Sarah Souli, Travel + Leisure, 28 Dec. 2025
Verb
My perch for 2026 Paris Design Week was the Hotel Panache, a boutique hotel near the bustling Grands Boulevards, which offers convenience, style (think Fornasetti wallpaper and Diptyque bath products), and reasonable prices even during Paris’s busiest weeks.
—Stephanie Sporn, Vogue, 27 Jan. 2026
This is a wealthy neighborhood, bustling with shoppers.
—Hari Kunzru, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bustling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bustling
Adjective
-
This left a critical unit short-staffed during one of the highest profile searches in PCSD history and during the busiest time of year for Search and Rescue.—
Peter D'Abrosca , Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
8 Feb. 2026
-
February is typically a busy month there for winter sports including skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Nguyen’s main renovations brought the bar from the back of the room to the front, an open window into the buzzing new restaurant.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
21 Jan. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Since bursting on the scene as a 17-year-old phenom at the 2002 Winter Games, the now 41-year-old has cemented her legacy as one of the best Alpine skiers of all time.—
Devon Henderson,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
-
That has Puerto Ricans bursting with anticipation — and pride.—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Meza Gonzalez and David Christian, one of her attorneys, refused to answer questions from reporters about the plea agreement, hurrying down a flight of stairs at the Cadena-Reeves Justice Center.—
Megan Rodriguez,
San Antonio Express-News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
But one weekend in November, people who would typically be hurrying by, staring down at their phones, stopped.—
The Editors,
Curbed,
15 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
The service Staffers are friendly, engaged, and helpful, without being overly formal.—
Sarah Kuta,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Just as mental wellness has become increasingly vital, pet benefits complement those efforts—helping to reduce loneliness, strengthen relationships and foster a more engaged workforce.—
Marissa Andrada,
Rolling Stone,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This chic, streamlined Movado watch features a vibrant green dial, complemented by the brand’s minimalist logo.—
John Monaco,
InStyle,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Many are coated in a vibrant pops of red or blue, while maintaining a lightweight, long-lasting construction.—
Shagun Khare,
Martha Stewart,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Fire Department said that resources after the incident were delayed due to the size of the teeming crowd near the Wilshire Federal Building.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Her custom look in yellow crepe georgette felt fresh and modern and rightly stood out in a night teeming in black gowns and tuxedo interpretations.—
Laurie Brookins,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The two endpoints have moved a meter farther apart, traveling at, say, one meter per second.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The Swiss Federal Railways, or SBB, is your go-to railway when traveling within Switzerland, and one-way tickets cost $30 on average.—
Erik Buckingham,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bustling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bustling. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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