flustered 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of flusterednext
as in irritated

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flustered

2 of 2

verb

past tense of fluster
as in embarrassed
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress was flustered when her parents dragged out her baby pictures for her new boyfriend

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 flustered
Adjective
Perreault-Magny said frightened and flustered migrants sometimes try to climb into his unmarked patrol pickup, mistaking it for a smuggler coming to collect them. — Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 29 July 2026 Basabe, a former reality TV personality and socialite who was first elected to the Florida House in 2022, appeared flustered. — Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
Verb
On the witness stand, the teenager was reportedly combative and flustered by Jackson’s attorney Tom Mesereau, who attempted to poke holes in Gavin’s testimony and allegedly screamed at the boy throughout. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 3 June 2026 This comes up every few years, and everyone gets all flustered every few years. — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flustered
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flustered
  1. irritated
  2. embarrassed
  3. upset
  4. confused
  5. nervous
  6. rattled
  7. agitated
  8. aggravated
Adjective
  • And everything is drier, more irritated — and even more acne-prone.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Nice people may of course become irritated, disappointed, jealous, or defensive, since niceness does not require sainthood.
    — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of irritated
Verb
  • One night earlier in the tour, a woman Usher had brought onstage rebuked him, which embarrassed him.
    — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2026
  • This isn’t a hypercar to smash lap records around the Nürburgring, but nor will it be embarrassed by a Porsche 911 GT3 at a track day.
    — Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of embarrassed
Adjective
  • An upset victory in Alaska for Democrats would be a massive step toward achieving that goal.
    — Joey Garrison, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Clancy appeared upset during the sidebar but returned to the defense table with a stoic expression.
    — Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of upset
Verb
  • Not to be confused with inverted full backs, an inverted winger is a wide player who is used on the opposite side of the pitch to their strong foot — so a left-footer on the right or a right-footer on the left.
    — Jon Mackenzie, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • William does not want the public confused about who officially represents the King.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of confused
Adjective
  • The letter writer is almost 40 and nervous about living with a romantic partner for the first time.
    — Shane O’Neill, Washington Post, 3 Sep. 2026
  • That energy spike is reinforcing inflation worries in a bond market already nervous about America’s $40 trillion mountain of debt.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of nervous
Verb
  • Investors have been rattled by the resurgence of inflationary pressures, particularly as a fresh wave of conflict in the Middle East drives oil prices higher.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
  • And the president's new plan to import ground beef has rattled many ranchers.
    — Gaby Vinick, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of rattled
Adjective
  • Reddington looked visibly agitated while in the courtroom, both during sidebar — at which Clancy was present — and during Sullivan’s instructions.
    — Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Officers described the videos recorded by that camera, writing that Westman seemed agitated after a visit with family and at times sobbed before driving by the church and school the night before the attack.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of agitated
Adjective
  • On Monday, Hamby was charged with murder, aggravated assault, terroristic threats and acts, and possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of a felony, jail records show.
    — Irene Wright, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Hamby was booked Monday on charges of murder, aggravated assault, terroristic threats and acts, and possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of a felony.
    — Christopher Harris, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of aggravated

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Cite this Entry

“Flustered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flustered. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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