hurly-burly

noun

ˌhər-lē-ˈbər-lē How to pronounce hurly-burly (audio)
Definition of hurly-burlynext
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity lost sight of his children in all the hurly-burly of the fair

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 hurly-burly According to the listing, the estate was custom built for the princess, with horse corrals, large stretches of usable land, and enough seclusion to feel removed from the hurly-burly of Los Angeles. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 4 Aug. 2026 But mostly for my parents, who had worked so hard for so many years to create a refuge from the hurly-burly of the outside world. — James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2025 Mustard admires the fact that, rather than engage in the hurly-burly of social media, Lamar will disappear from public view for long stretches of time. — Tribune News Service, Boston Herald, 22 Aug. 2024 The image’s low contrast and lack of sharpness suggest that it was snapped from the hurly-burly of the piazza. — Paul Elie, The New Yorker, 14 Nov. 2023 In the hurly-burly of a modern economy, people are constantly being hurt by economic changes beyond their control. — Alan S. Blinder, Foreign Affairs, 11 Dec. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hurly-burly
  1. commotion
  2. disturbance
  3. hurry
  4. turmoil
  5. stir
  6. fuss
  7. noise
Noun
  • Hearing the commotion, John calls for Gates only for the assailant to kick through the door.
    — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Sleep was beginning to finally visit the insomniacs and drunkards of T—in central Manila when a commotion louder than the usual domestic squabbles erupted from the room above Mang Calixto’s bakery.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of commotion
Noun
  • This mosquito is more associated with human disturbance including containers left out in people’s backyards will draw them.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The cameras are designed to attract minimal attention and create as little disturbance as possible.
    — Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of disturbance
Noun
  • Washburn recorded 17 tackles, two quarterback hurries and a pass breakup, but one of his biggest performances came on one of the biggest stages as Washburn recorded two sacks against FAMU in the Florida Classic.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026
  • There’s widespread thinking that Iran is not in much of a hurry.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of hurry
Noun
  • During a 2023 reunion episode of the TLC reality show, Janelle expressed her inner turmoil regarding her views on her union with Kody.
    — Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The turmoil after the removal of former prime minister Imran through a vote of no confidence in April 2022 reverberated through the corridors of power at the PCB.
    — Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of turmoil
Noun
  • Here, the cars that caused the most stir with their standout auction results.
    — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The centers, used as high-program computing hubs as the use of artificial intelligence increases, are popping up across the nation and causing a stir.
    — Kairi Lowery, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of stir
Noun
  • Sansa, a consummate professional like her superstar dad, gamely posed for the camera without any fuss.
    — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 18 Aug. 2026
  • At barnyard-chic Le Garde Champêtre, Japanese chef Kazuya Miyashita weaves the organic vegetable garden’s produce into farm-to-table plates minus the fuss—simply smoked and cooked around the fire.
    — Lane Nieset, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of fuss
Noun
  • If the city completes the necessary upgrades and receives approval for the quiet zone, officials say reducing train horn noise could make the area more attractive for residents and businesses.
    — Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The noise in Granbury, Texas, that started as a hum in the summer of 2023 had by January begun to disturb her at all hours.
    — Tavleen Tarrant, NBC news, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of noise

Browse Nearby Words

hurly-burlies
hurly-burly
hurrah
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Cite this Entry

“Hurly-burly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hurly-burly. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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