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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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
In a unique crossover, the artists and designers all strived for softness and calm to counteract the hustle and bustle of London. — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 24 Sep. 2026 Most bustles are done either at the start of cocktail hour or before the reception begins. — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 23 Sep. 2026
Verb
The air base itself was bustling with activity after the men were apprehended. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 27 Sep. 2026 California offers retirees a wide range of lifestyles, from coastal communities and mountain towns to bustling cities and suburban neighborhoods. — Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2026 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
  • There’s a lot of commotion swirling around you, and much of the drama may not even involve you directly.
    — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Robin’s younger sister Riverley heard the commotion and ran for help.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of commotion
Verb
  • In these moments, the actor bursts through his roles as the Spider does through Reilly, unleashing the Grand Guignol excess that is Nicolas Cage.
    — Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Two weeks after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in March 2022, the Russian TV Channel One editor Marina Ovsyannikova burst onto the set of the evening newscast.
    — Seva Gunitsky, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of burst
Verb
  • Notre Dame finished with a season-best 241 yards rushing, with freshman Jonaz Walton posting a team-high 120 yards and James adding 65 more.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
  • With the Miami Dolphins opting to take Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, Jordyn Brooks rushed to the practice facility.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of rush
Noun
  • Larger deployments would introduce greater distances, stronger environmental disturbances, and more difficult communication conditions.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Airman Roger Fortson was in his home in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, on May 3, 2024, when Eddie Duran responded to the apartment for a call reporting a domestic disturbance, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office.
    — Tesfaye Negussie, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of disturbance
Verb
  • The awards buzz may prove tough to come by at this point, given that Digger was hit with a C+ CinemaScore from audiences, landing as one of the lowest grades for Cruise’s career, and has polarized critics.
    — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2026
  • One of the acts that made a big impression on the youngsters was the Allen Tolbert Unit, whose namesake would captivate them by buzzing up and down his guitar fretboard like a hummingbird in flight.
    — Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of buzz
Verb
  • Some hurried to try to unmask the anonymous woman behind the accusations.
    — Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026
  • There is no need to hurry with additional rate hikes and policymakers can sit and wait for how the geopolitical risks play out.
    — Fred Imbert, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of hurry
Noun
  • Kardashian appearing on the show over Meghan would cause quite a stir, seeing as the two were recently at odds.
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 30 Sep. 2026
  • News of Van der Stap's arrest caused a stir in the cybersecurity community.
    — Eric Mack, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of stir
Verb
  • Duke also knew that in the country’s beautiful capital, Budapest, cafés hummed with arguments about poetry and politics, the press was relatively free, and Jewish businesses were still open.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The company thinks its fully reusable Starship megarocket will be humming along by then, taking care of all its spaceflight needs.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of hum

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bustle
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Cite this Entry

“Bustle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bustle. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bustle

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bustle

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