bustle 1 of 2

noun

Definition of bustlenext
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity I couldn't concentrate in all the bustle of the student lounge

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bustle

2 of 2

verb

ˈbə-səl How to pronounce bustle (audio)
1
as in to burst
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 to rush
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

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 bustle
Noun
Koh Phangan once again reverted to a haven away from the hustle and bustle of modern life. — Charlie Campbell, TIME, 17 Mar. 2025 With the hustle and bustle of American work culture, crafting as a form of self-care is gaining traction (these projects can even replace doomscrolling!). — Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Mar. 2025
Verb
By Saturday morning, the lights were back on and the terminals were bustling, with planes taking off and landing as Europe’s busiest airport reopened faster than expected after Friday’s jarring sudden stop. — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 22 Mar. 2025 The brightly colored dining room offers a front-row view of the bustling kitchen, including a window directly peering into the tortilla-making process as well as seats perched in front of the raw bar. — Zachery Eanes, Axios, 24 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bustle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bustle
  1. commotion
  2. burst
  3. rush
  4. disturbance
  5. buzz
  6. hurry
  7. stir
  8. hum
Noun
  • The reveal of the dire wolves and accompanying news on red wolf advances lead to plenty of commotion and news coverage.
    — Mike Snider, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
  • In the backdrop, a commotion of voices from distraught aid workers and soldiers shouting commands in Hebrew can be heard.
    — Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of commotion
Verb
  • Since bursting onto the scene as a freshman, Janiah has carried a heavy load for Seminole Ridge, showcasing not only her scoring ability but also her all-around impact on the game.
    — Gary Curreri, Sun Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Today’s styles run the gamut from nostalgic hearts and classic knots to bursting stars and beachy swirls.
    — Abby Morgan Lebet, Glamour, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of burst
Verb
  • The mayhem unfolded after the teen was walking back into the lobby area when Sampson rushed over to the girl and grabbed her arm, the affidavit reads.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The Trump administration's massive tariffs on China have Apple flying planes full of iPhones to the U.S. and consumers rushing to buy them before the prices potentially skyrocket.
    — Angrej Singh, Axios, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of rush
Noun
  • Habitat disturbances, including tourism, fertilizer collection, and limestone mining, pose significant threats to its survival, which is why it is listed as ‘near threatened‘ on International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Prosecutors had alleged that sheriff's deputies responded to a call of a domestic disturbance on June 9, 2019, at Paschel's home.
    — Diane J. Cho, People.com, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of disturbance
Verb
  • Madison Square Garden buzzed with anticipation, hearts warmed by nostalgia.
    — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2025
  • There was a long pause before anyone answered, and a longer pause before I was buzzed in.
    — Elif Batuman, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of buzz
Verb
  • The deals are on now and are good until April 14, so hurry and upgrade your Microsoft Office system today.
    — Nora Colomer, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Listen to this article Mayor Adams on Monday urged the judge presiding over his public corruption case to hurry up and decide on outstanding dismissal motions before upcoming deadlines in the mayoral race.
    — Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of hurry
Noun
  • Fans of this show based on a treatment by the legendary Bruce Lee caused enough of a stir that it was eventually renewed for Max exclusively, airing a third season on the streaming service.
    — Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2025
  • The news, which surfaced late last week when letters to these vendors from Chief Procurement Officer Sharla Roberts were shared with the media, caused an immediate stir and prompted some aldermen to publicly advise contractors not to comply with the request.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of stir
Verb
  • The Knicks settled on running more offense through Anunoby and Bridges, the pair of wings who kept the offense humming with the All-Star and captain out due to injury.
    — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Rising wages have enabled people to keep spending, which has kept the overall economy humming along.
    — Scott Horsley, NPR, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of hum

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busting
bustle
bustled
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Cite this Entry

“Bustle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bustle. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bustle

Nglish: Translation of bustle for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bustle

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