as in disturbances
a state of noisy, confused activity
I couldn't concentrate in all the bustle of the student lounge
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in scurries
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
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Recent Examples of bustles
Kara Williams, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
The downtown bustles with businesses both old and new.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
Temporary and permanent business closures across Minneapolis Ordinarily on weekends, Midtown Global Market bustles with live music, laughing children and a diverse array of businesses, says González.
—Megan Sauer, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
Often an aunt bustles in and replaces a dead mother.
—Literary Hub, 14 Jan. 2026
Vercors Regional Natural Park is on the village’s doorstep and the whole place bustles with performers, music, shows and stalls for the medieval festival held each year in the first week of August.
—Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025
Inside, the studio bustles with activity.
—Patrik Jonsson, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Aug. 2025
Fabric and craft ranged from raffia to sequins, bustles to intarsia.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Noun
Yes, this popular New England weekend getaway spot bustles with tourists in the summer months—for good reason.
—Kara Williams, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
The downtown bustles with businesses both old and new.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
Temporary and permanent business closures across Minneapolis Ordinarily on weekends, Midtown Global Market bustles with live music, laughing children and a diverse array of businesses, says González.
—Megan Sauer, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
Often an aunt bustles in and replaces a dead mother.
—Literary Hub, 14 Jan. 2026
Vercors Regional Natural Park is on the village’s doorstep and the whole place bustles with performers, music, shows and stalls for the medieval festival held each year in the first week of August.
—Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025
Inside, the studio bustles with activity.
—Patrik Jonsson, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Aug. 2025
Fabric and craft ranged from raffia to sequins, bustles to intarsia.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bustles
Noun
-
Meteorologists say a large-scale upper-level trough over the Plains is helping drive a series of disturbances that will move east through the day.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
But since that ridge shifted from Northern California in early April, the new pattern has invited multiple low-pressure disturbances into the region.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Haaland bursts our bubble almost immediately by scoring in the opening five minutes, and Burnley miss a few good first-half chances, with striker Zian Flemming particularly culpable.—
Nnamdi Onyeagwara,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The 60-year immigration bubble finally bursts.—
,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The way Radcliffe scurries out of his chair and into the green room to meet Liu illustrates her visceral impact.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Bridgerton fans can spot the Old Royal Naval College mostly throughout season 2, like when a paperboy scurries across the grounds to deliver the latest gossip from Lady Whistledown in the first episode.—
Kayla Keegan,
PEOPLE,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Refrigerated pie crust helps this pie come together with just a few stirs of the whisk.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, the boarding house buzzes around him.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
26 Apr. 2026
-
At night, Bar Dryce buzzes with hip city-dwellers and, on weekends, DJ sets.—
Regan Stephens,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The fate of a key government surveillance tool is expected to be decided next week, as House GOP leadership rushes to reauthorize the program before an April 30 deadline.—
Hailey Bullis,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Apr. 2026
-
On a second-period power play, the Penguins allowed three odd-man rushes against.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Over the past year, men’s ski jumping has been marred by Norway’s cheating scandal and more recent genital manipulation rumors, which has become one of the early commotions of the Milano-Cortina Games.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Now, with the case of Reiner, the machinery hums again.—
Maxwell Adler,
Vanity Fair,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The name hums with nostalgia, and includes a placid nod to those coal-mining towns where people were paid in company scrip.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bustles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bustles. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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