BUSTLING Synonyms: 192 Similar and Opposite Words

bustling 1 of 2

adjective

ˈbəs-liŋ

Definition of bustling

as in busy

involved in often constant activity a bustling greeter was there to welcome guests to the grand opening

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in buzzing

marked by much life, movement, or activity a bustling shopping center during the Christmas season

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bustling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of bustle

as in bursting

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 hurrying

to proceed or move quickly the hostess bustled about, taking care of last-minute preparations for the party

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 bustling

Adjective

Wynwood began as farmland, then became an industrial hub and, eventually, a bustling garment district. — Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026 Times have changed, and now the area is a bustling center of commerce and recreation centered around Oracle Park and the Chase Center, with a massive city park expected to break ground later this year. — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 28 Sep. 2026

Verb

Now, Randsburg locals hope their storied history, plus some horror, can bring a little boom back to the once-bustling town. — Joy Benedict, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 Though the actors are not so much hammy as salt-encrusted, Capra keeps them bustling about within the frame. — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bustling

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bustling

Adjective

The best travel accessories are the ones that quietly earn a permanent spot in your carry-on, and Amazon’s outlet has some useful finds ahead of the busy holiday travel season.

— Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 22 Oct. 2026
Emily Ratajkowski has been keeping busy in Los Angeles, mixing daring mirror selfies with a little romance.

— Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of busy

Verb

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
And every few months, a bursting FedEx envelope from Baltimore would appear at my desk at PRH containing Professor Dixon’s typewritten chunks of new and unpublished writing.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of bursting

Adjective

The couple began dating in 2018, became engaged in January 2019 and married in June of that year.

— Janelle Ash , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
If companies want more engaged workers, ADP CEO Maria Black says CEOs and senior leaders should start by asking themselves if employees trust them.

— Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of engaged

Adjective

Its vibrant Emerald Check pattern extends from the base plate to the lid, which is topped with an ornamental glass knob that feels fit for royalty.

— Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2026
Much has been said about the end of quiet luxury—the vibrant menswear collections over the summer finally squashed that conversation entirely, actually.

— Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of vibrant

Verb

In the late 19th century, the Devil’s Mile was an avatar of urban development—the site of an elevated train that cut a clamorous swath through the teeming neighborhoods of Lower Manhattan.

— J. Hoberman, ARTnews.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Here, in the heart of an expansive park filled with birds and monkeys, is a refuge from the frenzy of this teeming metropolis.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of teeming

Verb

Pradasphere, the first permanent exhibition dedicated to Prada after earlier traveling iterations in 2014 in London and Hong Kong, and in 2023 in Shanghai, definitely reflects this cross-pollination of influences.

— Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
Storms capable of causing hail and wind damage were traveling through central Arizona early Thursday, with some flood watches and the possibility of tornadoes, the National Weather Service said.

— Wufei Yu, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of traveling

Browse Nearby Words

bustles

bustling

busts

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Style

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

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Synonyms of bustling

adjective

verb

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