flustered 1 of 2

Definition of flusterednext

flustered

2 of 2

verb

past tense of fluster

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 flustered
Adjective
Our flustered narrator attempts to defend himself on the grounds of sketchy reporting ethics—don’t some interviewers take notes and extrapolate later? Hannah Gold, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026 Caroline comes down all flustered, acting like Carolyn was about to feed her daughter to a lion. Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
Verb
The Huskies flustered the Horned Frogs with a zone in the first half, limiting their dribble penetration off the pick-and-roll as TCU went into halftime with just 19 points. Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2026 At one point in the first half, a Utah ball handler couldn’t get past Bidunga to drive to the basket, and while flustered, threw the ball backward to a teammate. Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 7 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flustered
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flustered
Adjective
  • Reapply a thin layer of moisturizer if skin feels dry or irritated.
    Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 18 May 2026
  • These might include cramping, nausea, bloating, diarrhea, or an irritated rectum, Hazan says, as well as dehydration or electrolyte imbalances, which can affect heart or kidney function.
    Erica Sweeney, Time, 11 May 2026
Verb
  • The Sixers were embarrassed by the Knicks 144-114 in Game 4 in front of a New York-heavy crowd in South Philadelphia.
    Tom Dougherty, CBS News, 12 May 2026
  • That this series has flipped on its head seemed almost impossible last Sunday, when the Celtics embarrassed Philadelphia in a Game 4 win on the Sixers’ home floor.
    Tobias Bass, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Adjective
  • The moment capped a chaotic rivalry game between the reigning Open Division champions and a Kennedy team that was pushing for an upset, with defensive miscues helping shape the late innings for both sides.
    Ethan Hanson, Daily News, 23 May 2026
  • But the cash Levine pumped into his own campaign — about one-fifth of his net worth at the time — wasn’t enough to beat Gillum, the former Tallahassee mayor, a progressive who won the primary in a stunning upset.
    Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 23 May 2026
Verb
  • The company is not to be confused with the music-publishing company of the same name, founded in 2017, the assets of which were recently acquired by Sony Music.
    Jem Aswad, Variety, 18 May 2026
  • Cassidy also complained that a new primary system enacted last year confused voters by requiring them to ask for a partisan ballot instead of the all-party primary previously in place.
    Thomas Beaumont, Fortune, 17 May 2026
Adjective
  • There was laughter, nervous laughter, lots of nervous laughter, and also tears.
    Roberto Prieto, Variety, 19 May 2026
  • Providing the voice of one of the many alien characters is Martin Scorsese, who has some amusing moments with his typically rapid-fire delivery as a nervous street food vendor whom Djarin pumps for information.
    Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2026
Verb
  • One recent incident occurred in October at the Chevron oil refinery in El Segundo, triggered after a large fire broke out in a corner of the refinery where crude oil is turned to jet fuel, and resulted in a violent blast that rattled homes up to one mile away.
    Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2026
  • On Wednesday, the bond selloff took a breather, offering a measure of relief after the spike in yields rattled investors.
    Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 20 May 2026
Adjective
  • This tiny bird was alone and agitated.
    Lisa Hughes, CBS News, 19 May 2026
  • Unproductively, in the confines of the smaller-scale Fyda-Mar stage, the discordant sensory barrage director Oanh Nguyen brings to bear landed on at least one theatergoer as an agitated, irritating distraction.
    Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
Adjective
  • Dickinson appeared somewhere between perturbed and seething.
    Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Flustered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flustered. Accessed 25 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on flustered

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster