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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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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
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Recent Examples of bluster
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
2 June 2026
Behind the pomp and bluster of the Luce launch, there are more than a few nervous automotive executives.
—
Jeremy White,
Wired News,
27 May 2026
Andrew Latham,
The Conversation,
26 Jan. 2026
Matty is a blustering, blue-collar Bostonian who sees himself as the unequivocal boss of the house and frequently clashes with his liberal niece.
—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bluster
Noun
Western, for his part, had by this time recovered something of his usual bluster, and began again upon the subject of Blifil, commending his estate and his family with great earnestness, as though these considerations alone ought to have settled the matter long since.
—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
2 June 2026
Behind the pomp and bluster of the Luce launch, there are more than a few nervous automotive executives.
—
Jeremy White,
Wired News,
27 May 2026
Verb
Trump has blustered, contradicted himself publicly, ramped-up rhetorically and then backed down, mostly without receiving obvious concessions.
—
Andrew Latham,
The Conversation,
26 Jan. 2026
Matty is a blustering, blue-collar Bostonian who sees himself as the unequivocal boss of the house and frequently clashes with his liberal niece.
—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bluster
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bluster
Noun
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For too long Western leaders have been deterred by Putin’s escalation rhetoric.
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Concha argued that her positions and rhetoric reflect a broader shift in the Democratic Party toward socialism and extremism.
Noun
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In the early afternoon, a roar ripped through the stifling Mississippi heat, as dozens of motorcycles leading the funeral procession rumbled into the church parking lot.
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Johnson’s first budget made the CARE pilot permanent and doubled staff positions in 2024, to roars of approval from his progressive base.
Noun
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With some flashing lights, this thing flying around in the sky would cause quite a commotion.
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Any browns feeding there are less likely to have been spooked by the commotion.
Verb
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This version is battery-powered, meaning no more huffing and puffing!
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Meanwhile in Boston, England huffed and puffed but could not blow Ghana away.
Noun
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Victor Lindelof’s pre-match comments smacked of bombast and confidence, the sort of words which are said but not meant, platitudes used to motivate rather than to be sworn under oath.
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The documentary’s contradiction is right there, enthralling us with the wild achievements Potter pulled off and frustrating us with his bombast, leading us to ponder whether, as The Dark Wizard suggests, either could exist without the other.
Noun
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Rescue workers heard noises that raised the possibility that someone underneath was still alive, Espy told The Times.
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Ration food and water, listen for rescue calls and search for something near you to make noise.
Noun
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Even tiny electromagnetic disturbances can disrupt the quantum states that perform calculations, reducing the accuracy and reliability of the system.
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However, about 15 minutes into the flight, a pilot reported a passenger disturbance to air traffic control.
Noun
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This is another stride of lyricism, philosophy, I’m-the-best braggadocio, bravado.
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But for everything Gates said that might appeal to a frustrated Democrat like me, his Huntington Beach braggadocio continually won out.
Cite this Entry
“Bluster.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bluster. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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