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
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Recent Examples of bustling
George Avalos, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2026
The surrounding neighborhood reflects the spirit of Park City itself—bustling, historic, and approachable, yet smoothly connected to the nearby mountains.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Mar. 2026
Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026
The garden is designed as a tranquil and fully accessible space for reflection in the heart of bustling London and opens to the public on April 27.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bustling
Adjective
The building had previously been a bustling hub for retail and shoppers.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2026
The surrounding neighborhood reflects the spirit of Park City itself—bustling, historic, and approachable, yet smoothly connected to the nearby mountains.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
In Bookshop Cats, from bustling city centers to quaint village nooks, meet the cats who have claimed their place between the shelves, weaving their own stories into the narratives that surround them.
—Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026
The garden is designed as a tranquil and fully accessible space for reflection in the heart of bustling London and opens to the public on April 27.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bustling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bustling
Adjective
-
The café is serviceable and busy all the time.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Grand Central Terminal, one of the city’s busiest transit hubs, serves not only daily commuters, but also draws thousands of tourists each day.—
Matt Lavietes,
NBC news,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
On the handful of occasions in each game between them when Jokic catches at the elbow and his teammates clear out, an anxious hush invariably falls over a buzzing arena.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Even the most cursory tour of local highlights will take you from the 2,000-year-old remains of Emperor Tiberius's cliff-top Villa Jovis to the still-buzzing purveyor of Jackie Kennedy's iconic sandals—Canfora, which anchors the Via Camerelle luxury shopping corridor.—
Elizabeth Heath,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This vibrant city is a foodie’s sanctuary, a shopper’s delight, and a cultural hub bursting with museums, galleries and cafes.—
Kalpana Fitzpatrick,
TheWeek,
15 Apr. 2026
-
My heart is constantly bursting open, while also breaking into a million pieces.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
No point hurrying toward a resolution that was always receding.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Instead of hurrying to break up tents and scatter RVs, Lee and Oakland’s interim homelessness chief Sasha Hauswald want city workers to focus on minimizing trash and human waste around encampments.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Alito has remained an active and engaged participant in the court's work, even after he was briefly hospitalized earlier this year for a health scare of undisclosed origin.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Zander credits remaining engaged and excited.—
Marc Ballon,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Tiles and accessories are designed to mix and match so players can create a beautiful mahjong setup that reflects their personal style -- from colorful tiles to vibrant mats, racks, tile shufflers and carryall bags.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Plant honeysuckle for its vibrant blooms.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
To accept that there will always be creatures teeming nearby, some of them agonizing, expelled from their days.—
María Ospina,
The Dial,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Mason evokes the vibrant street scene vividly, with archive footage of the area’s teeming bars and even a nod to the Donut Time store immortalized in Sean Baker’s transgender High Noon story Tangerine.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
If the bill passes, anyone who wants to ride an e-bike or e-moto capable of traveling over 28 mph would be required to have a driver’s license, title, registration and insurance.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Soleimanpour wrote the play while he was forbidden from travelling outside Iran.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bustling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bustling. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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