bluster 1 of 2

noun

Definition of blusternext
1
as in rhetoric
boastful speech or writing all the bluster in the campaign speech was intended to hide a lack of specifics

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2
as in roar
loud, confused, and usually inharmonious sound I can't work with all the bluster in here

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3
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity a mayor who got things done without a lot of bluster and self-serving publicity

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bluster

2 of 2

verb

ˈblə-stər How to pronounce bluster (audio)
as in to huff
to talk loudly and wildly the rude customer blustered and yelled threats about lawsuits, but eventually left

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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 bluster
Noun
This could potentially wear them out, disperse their argumentative bluster, and might even open their eyes to their woefully over-the-top arguing tendencies. — Lance Eliot, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024 Agency officials should try not to get caught up in Trump’s bluster. — Peter Schroeder, Foreign Affairs, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
By the end, Arsenal had blustered and bludgeoned their way to 23 shots, but only three of them were on target. — George Caulkin, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025 Like the band's music, the show's script reflects how Thornton's cadence and rhythm as an actor allow for quiet, expressive moments and blustering ad-libs that often carry the power of the statements or circumstances that dominate a scene. — Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 15 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for bluster
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bluster
  1. rhetoric
  2. roar
  3. commotion
  4. huff
  5. bombast
  6. noise
  7. stir
  8. braggadocio
Noun
  • Trump’s election confirmed, to some on the Left, that the country really was as bad as some of their harshest rhetoric suggested.
    — Alexander Nazaryan, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Mar. 2025
  • An evaluation of Trump’s past rhetoric and actions and the FCPA’s benefits for American business suggests that foreign corruption enforcement is not going anywhere soon.
    — Robert Anello, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of rhetoric
Noun
  • At a few points during his broadcast, the audio could barely be heard due to the bass and the roar of the crowd.
    — Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 17 Mar. 2025
  • In an exhibition game against the Yomiuri Giants, the three-time MVP belted a two-run home run to right field in the third inning to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 4-0 lead, setting off a roar from the roughly 42,000 fans in attendance.
    — David Brandt, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of roar
Noun
  • Pilots heard the commotion and turned the flight around back to Savannah, police said.
    — Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Naturally, this means that even something as small as a new shade of Pocket Blush is bound to cause tons of commotion—and spoiler alert, that’s exactly what happened after Hailey’s recent date night routine.
    — Kleigh Balugo, StyleCaster, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of commotion
Verb
  • Or flesh—notice the tiny worker huffing up the steps in the top right.
    — Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Adding in a motor has made cargo bikes much more workable for those riders who would like the convenience and capacity of a cargo bike but have hesitated in the past due to their own physical condition and the prospect of huffing a cargo bike up hills or across town.
    — William Roberson, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
Definition of huff
Noun
  • Trump is a man whose bombast, sweeping actions, and slashing pronouncements accentuate his expansive instinctual drive.
    — Robert W. Merry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Carr wanted to bring Broadway verve and Vegas bombast to the Academy Awards, but the stunned looks on the faces of front-row nominees who were getting glad-handed by a Disney princess indicated that Carr’s vision was an immediate catastrophe.
    — Zach Schonfeld, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2025
Definition of bombast
Noun
  • After hearing community concerns about noise, potential health risks, traffic and other issues, the Valle de Oro Community Planning Group on Tuesday unanimously opposed plans to convert the closed Cottonwood Golf Course into a sand mine.
    — Gary Warth, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025
  • In a world of noise, the founders who lead with authenticity and consistency are the ones who truly stand out—and win.
    — Danylo Borodchuk, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of noise
Noun
  • Spending hike The outlook is meanwhile clouded by a host of factors causing a stir in markets and the economy.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2025
  • The minister insisted no pressure was applied to lift restrictions on the Tates after a Financial Times report on the meeting caused a stir in Romania.
    — STEPHEN McGRATH, TIME, 27 Feb. 2025
Definition of stir
Noun
  • The most successful of his sprawling New York rap crew, Mayers vaulted to fame in 2011 with a style defined by suave braggadocio and self-mythologizing reminiscent of old-school legends such as Rakim and the Wu-Tang Clan.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2025
  • Nicholson's portrayal of a rebellious mental hospital inmate is a phenomenal combination of sly intelligence and impish braggadocio, best showcased during the scene where, thwarted in his attempt to watch the World Series on TV, McMurphy ad libs a commentary in front of a blank set.
    — EW.com, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2025
Definition of braggadocio

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Cite this Entry

“Bluster.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bluster. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

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