BUSTLE Synonyms: 208 Similar and Opposite Words

bustle 1 of 2

noun

Definition of bustle

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

as in to burst

to be copiously supplied on Saturdays the city's downtown bustles with activity as a farmers' market sets up shop

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Amid the hustle and bustle of Shanghai, Samuel Gui Yang has created a quiet alcove as the Chinese brand’s first retail outpost. — Denni Hu, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026 Amid the hustle and bustle of Frieze London, where champagne bottles pop and deals are orchestrated, Brazilian abstract artist Marina Perez Simão wants to invite guests to contemplate inside a spaceship in Pace Gallery’s booth. — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Verb

Castle Town bustled more than ever, teeming with banners, flowers and colorful citizenry. — James Perkins Mastromarino, NPR, 14 Oct. 2026 There’s something very nice about stepping out on a terrace right in the heart of bustling Vancouver to feel the crisp Pacific Northwest air. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bustle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bustle

Noun

In the commotion, she was briefly separated from her 85-year-old mother, who lives with her.

— Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
That allowed passengers to hear the commotion and discover what was happening.

— Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of commotion

Verb

When that bubble burst in the Panic of 1893, a third of railroads went bust, more than 500 banks failed, and the economy plunged into a four-year depression.

— Ming Lu, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
When a bank of televisions showed horses bursting through the starting gate, feet stomped on the club’s carpet.

— Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of burst

Verb

Police detained Runa at the care home and took her away before her mother, who had rushed back to the facility upon hearing the news, had a chance to see her, Yoko recalled.

— Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
Hawkins, who entered the game leading the nation with 14 rushing TDs, also had scoring runs of 2 and 36 yards.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of rush

Noun

The vote, which is veto-proof, was met with praise by animal rights groups and park advocates who have long called for the ban citing several incidents where horses crashed or caused disturbances.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
There’s also a second disturbance several hundred miles east-southeast of Bermuda that could develop through Friday while moving north-northeast, the hurricane center advisory said.

— Robin Webb, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of disturbance

Verb

On this cloudy Saturday morning in September, Cape Town's College of Magic is buzzing with energy as dozens of students are competing in the annual junior magic contest.

— Julie Bourdin, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
Fielder and Oppenheim’s word-of-mouth sensation has taken pop culture by storm, earning millions at the box office, winning near-universal critical praise and generating a ton of press coverage, as well as Oscar buzz.

— David Mack, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of buzz

Verb

On a tight end screen with 8 minutes and 48 seconds remaining in the third quarter of the Falcons’ 31-23 loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Daniels hurried downhill and tackled Bears standout Colston Loveland.

— Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Jeff Boschee had no desire to head out of town, to hurry back to Pittsburg, Kansas, after his Pittsburg State Gorillas’ 80-62 Late Night in the Phog exhibition loss to Kansas on Friday night at Allen Fieldhouse.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of hurry

Verb

But all of that said, with over 325 million global subscribers, Netflix remains well positioned to keep its core streaming business humming along nicely, albeit at a somewhat less rapid clip, according to MoffettNathanson analyst Robert Fishman.

— Todd Spangler, Variety, 21 Oct. 2026
The offense has been humming with Williams under center, averaging 31 points per game in his three starts.

— Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of hum

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busting

bustle

bustled

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“Bustle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bustle. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of bustle

noun

verb

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