as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity
the high-spirited hurly that engulfs the college campus as students begin arriving en masse for the start of the academic year
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Recent Examples of hurly
This was the last week of life for Off Vine restaurant, a treasured refuge from the hurly burly of Sunset Boulevard, housed in a bungalow with a 115-year history, a repository of countless, colorful movieland stories.
—
Linda Deutsch, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2023
Linda Deutsch, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hurly
Noun
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The incident wasn’t the first time Nixon caused a commotion on the House floor over redistricting.—
Gray Rohrer,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2026
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The employees will either be able to reach out to the culprit to quiet things down, or could transfer you to another room if the commotion doesn’t quit.—
Karla Walsh,
Southern Living,
12 May 2026
Noun
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Increasing heat and humidity could spark showers and storms Friday morning, but a better chance for more widespread storms arrives Friday night into Saturday as a stronger disturbance moves in, according to the weather service.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
11 May 2026
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Avoid spring pruning to let blooms fully develop and prevent unnecessary disturbance to the tree.—
Gemma Johnstone,
The Spruce,
11 May 2026
Noun
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Everyone was in a hurry to move forward into a newly peaceful world, a world without the tragedies of war abroad and the curse of sickness at home.—
Fran Moreland Johns,
The Atlantic,
11 May 2026
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Kiffin knows that, in Oxford and everywhere else, the love of fans and donors can sour in a hurry.—
Chris Smith,
Vanity Fair,
11 May 2026
Noun
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Among them was a Washington think tank that caused a stir recently with a paper that proposed capping annual Social Security benefits at $100,000 to shore up the retirement trust fund.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
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After Bo Nix’s follow-up ankle procedure caused quite the stir in recent weeks, Payton said Nix could still end up throwing in minicamp later in June.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
10 May 2026
Noun
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In the 1980s, many people didn't understand what the fuss was about, longtime broadcast journalist Joie Chen recalls.—
David Folkenflik,
NPR,
6 May 2026
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Since then, thousands have flocked to theaters nationwide to see the award-winning performer and find out what all the fuss is about.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
6 May 2026
Noun
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The most recent turmoil stems from the second of two rulings from the state’s highest court that focused on a referendum campaign, called People Not Politicians, that last year turned in more than 305,000 signatures to force a November statewide vote on the map.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
14 May 2026
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The cuts deepen the turmoil at Air India, following a devastating crash last year and the departure of its CEO last month.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
14 May 2026
Noun
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Experts refer that moment to conveying a picture, a moment often accentuated by the rhythmical clatter of two pieces of wood, which are like claves.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
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Just the check, the soft clatter of plates and that lingering smell of basil and coconut that follows you out the door.—
Timothy DePeugh,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Surveying the space they’re tasked with protecting, the two men grouse about the incessant noise of FedEx workers packing up storefronts on rolling large cardboard boxes toward the exits.—
Audrey Pachuta,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
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John Harbaugh looked up as the noise built to a crescendo on Saturday.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hurly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hurly. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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