flustering 1 of 2

adjective

as in embarrassing
causing embarrassment a flustering situation that left us all silent

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

flustering

2 of 2

verb

present participle of fluster
as in confusing
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 flustering
Verb
The Pistons’ defense is swarming and flustering the Cavs. — Zach Harper, New York Times, 8 May 2026 But Seymour threw on a press, flustering the Patriots, who began to turn the ball over. — Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 22 Mar. 2026 In the first half the Horned Frogs were successful in flustering the freshman. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flustering
  1. embarrassing
  2. confusing
  3. awkward
  4. rattling
  5. uncomfortable
  6. disconcerting
  7. unpleasant
  8. difficult
Adjective
  • Kip Dellinger Santa Monica Desman Stephens’ response to his late hit on quarterback Dante Moore was an embarrassing display of poor judgment and a lack of respect for the game.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
  • His party’s retreat comes after a series of embarrassing election showings in which the far-right AfD made huge inroads.
    — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of embarrassing
Verb
  • Immigrant parents there wanted help writing to their kids’ teachers and making sense of confusing forms.
    — Steven Choi, New York Daily News, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Critics say the requirements have been confusing and difficult for many voters to meet, potentially leaving millions off the registration lists and unable to vote.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of confusing
Adjective
  • The payoff is that bulky, awkward items like pot lids and foil boxes stop monopolizing a shelf and become easy to grab.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Within this awkward relic of several other ages, New York’s past gets fetishized, chopped up, and whirled together into digestible entertainment.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of awkward
Verb
  • OpenAI said the notifications didn’t necessarily mean systems were compromised -- the activity may have been more like rattling a locked door than breaking it down.
    — Miriam Waldvogel, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The roar of the engines vibrated through the fuselage, rattling bones and teeth, while supply crates shifted and groaned with every lurch.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of rattling
Adjective
  • Likewise, tipping can make settling up uncomfortable when dining out with friends.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026
  • To do the uncomfortable things and show up and be ready and make great music with energy and a sense of wonder.
    — Dan Hyman, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of uncomfortable
Verb
  • Rates of autism are rising to previously unseen levels, owing largely to better detection and new diagnostic criteria, but the numbers are still disconcerting.
    — Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • It is filled with off-putting, perhaps even disconcerting antics, and teams don't want to add that to their locker room.
    — Armando Salguero, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of disconcerting
Adjective
  • As unpleasant as his job might be at the moment, Harbaugh is ostensibly safe.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Depriving the plant of light discourages the development of chlorophyll—the green plant pigment responsible for color—and rids the chicory of an unpleasant flavor.
    — Tamar Adler, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of unpleasant
Adjective
  • Finding people at high risk of incubating the Bundibugyo virus, also known as contact tracing, has proved difficult in Congo.
    — CONSTANT SAME BAGALWA, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
  • McKinsey’s data says some of those moves can be difficult for certain workers.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of difficult

Browse Nearby Words

flustered
flustering
flusters
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Cite this Entry

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

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