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
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bustling
Albee Zhang, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026
One with 72,000 residents, and a bustling Main Street.
—Olivia Young, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026
Lauren Victory, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
In recent years, that dining scene has expanded to include the casual Italian spot Lé Fresca, the relaxing Golden Age Wine Garden, and the bustling Salud Taqueria—which are all within walking distance of each other.
—Bob Carlton, Southern Living, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bustling
Adjective
Last summer, Ban moved from a bustling commercial city on China’s east coast to a small town in China’s southwestern Yunnan province.
—Albee Zhang, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026
One with 72,000 residents, and a bustling Main Street.
—Olivia Young, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026
Verb
Sunday night and Monday morning, O'Hare was hustling and bustling, filled with a nervous energy.
—Lauren Victory, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
In recent years, that dining scene has expanded to include the casual Italian spot Lé Fresca, the relaxing Golden Age Wine Garden, and the bustling Salud Taqueria—which are all within walking distance of each other.
—Bob Carlton, Southern Living, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bustling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bustling
Adjective
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Jet fuel prices are rising as the war in the Middle East disrupts global oil supplies, putting cost pressure on airlines as the busy summer travel season approaches.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Mar. 2026
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Ask the staff for a quieter room that ideally doesn’t face the main road; typical of the city, Admiralty Way is constantly busy, and in the rainy season heavy thunderstorms can be enough to wake one out of sleep—light sleepers will do well to pick a room that’s more internal.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Opt for the spring or fall to enjoy the best of the city's buzzing outdoor markets and piazzas.—
Kristin Braswell,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Mar. 2026
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Tamarindo, a great stretch of beach for surfing, is equally famous for its nightlife, with buzzing spots like Chiquita's Tamarindo.—
Natalie Hammond,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Sans jacket, Pascal made a statement with a bursting floral that accented his tuxedo shirt with pearl buttons.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
16 Mar. 2026
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Few cities are as bursting with history, from the medieval streets of its Old Town to the spacious boulevards of its 18th-century New Town.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
Adjective
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Kerr, a former Victoria’s Secret model, went on to wed billionaire Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, and the English actor subsequently dated and became engaged to pop star Katy Perry, only to split with her last summer after nearly a decade together.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
19 Mar. 2026
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Directed by Kristoffer Borgli, The Drama stars Zendaya opposite Robert Pattinson as an engaged couple in the midst of wedding preparations, whose relationship is put to the test after a startling revelation.—
Valentine Ulgu-Servant,
Vanity Fair,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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There’s a lot to enjoy in the immediate vicinity, but the L, J, and G trains will quickly transport you to even more vibrant dining destinations.—
Wilder Davies,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 Mar. 2026
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This fresh and vibrant salad is delicious warm or cold, as a nutritious lunch or shared at a gathering, said Madeleine Olivia.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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The mesmerizing power of the booming sound in a southern Moroccan desert prompts the teeming bodies to writhe and dance in an ecstatic state.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The juvenile was operating a Magnum Cosmo e-bike, with another male juvenile riding as a passenger, and traveling northbound on Remington Way through the intersection with Allenwood Drive when the boy lost control and skidded to the ground, police said.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
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For Christians in medieval and early modern Europe, traveling overland and by sea to reach the Holy Land took time and means, and the journey involved many perils.—
Sarah Kozlowski,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bustling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bustling. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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