1
as in busy
involved in often constant activity
a bustling greeter was there to welcome guests to the grand opening
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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 bustling
Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 23 Oct. 2025
This leads some landlords to cut the prices and open the doors to independent and local type businesses just to keep a plaza active and bustling.
—Kevin Williams, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2025
Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 5 Jan. 2026
The building, which was bustling with life Sunday night, is now an empty shell.
—Vanessa Murdock, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bustling
Adjective
With hundreds of stores and services, Asian Garden Mall is a bustling place for the famished.
—Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 23 Oct. 2025
This leads some landlords to cut the prices and open the doors to independent and local type businesses just to keep a plaza active and bustling.
—Kevin Williams, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
Days are easy to fill, shopping on King’s Parade (be sure to pop into Nomads for unique trinkets and jewellery), browsing the stalls in the bustling Market Square or visiting one of the city’s world-class museums (the Fitzwilliam is a must).
—Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 5 Jan. 2026
The building, which was bustling with life Sunday night, is now an empty shell.
—Vanessa Murdock, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bustling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bustling
Adjective
-
At 40 of the country’s busiest airports, flights coming and going will be reduced by 10% this week.—
The Kim Komando Show,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The shutdown’s ripple effects spread across nearly every part of the air travel network Friday, with the nation’s busiest airports hit hardest.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
First responders in Atlanta rushed to an airport runway Tuesday after an aircraft experienced a harrowing landing failure, with all eight of its landing tires bursting the moment the plane touched down, according to Fox 5 Atlanta.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
And Johnson can’t erase the imagery of poor Cleveland Browns rookie defensive tackle Mason Graham, a top-5 pick, bursting through the B-gap at the snap only to be crushed by guard Jonah Jackson.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Try having a musician become engaged for that length of time.—
Karen Taylor Bass,
Billboard,
6 Nov. 2025
-
In the year since their split, Turner has gotten engaged to his new partner, Lana Sutton.—
Brenton Blanchet,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
The Legion Pro Rollable lets players train in conditions closer to tournament play, even while traveling.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The Santa Rosa Police Department said in a press release that officers responded to multiple reports of a shooting at the mall and found a 15-year-old boy who had been shot, with the bullet traveling through his body, leaving entry and exit wounds in his upper shoulder and mid-back area.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bustling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bustling. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share