bluster

[bluhs-ter]

See more synonyms for bluster on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)

to roar and be tumultuous, as wind.
to be loud, noisy, or swaggering; utter loud, empty menaces or protests: He blusters about revenge but does nothing.

verb (used with object)

to force or accomplish by blustering: He blustered his way through the crowd.

noun

boisterous noise and violence: the bluster of the streets.
noisy, empty threats or protests; inflated talk: bluff and bluster.

Origin of bluster

1520–30; perhaps < Low German blustern, blüstern to blow violently; compare Old Norse blāstr blowing, hissing

Related formsblus·ter·er, nounblus·ter·ing·ly, adverbblus·ter·y, blus·ter·ous, adjectiveblus·ter·ous·ly, adverbout·blus·ter, verb (used with object)un·blus·ter·ous, adjectiveun·blus·ter·ous·ly, adverb

Synonyms

See more synonyms for bluster on Thesaurus.com

2. rant, brag, boast, gloat. 3. threaten, storm, bully.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for bluster

Contemporary Examples

Consequently, the ones who suffer the brunt of your bluster are not Muslims in other nations that you may want to influence.
After Maher-Affleck, We Need an Honest—and Calm—Dialogue on Islam
Dean Obeidallah
October 10, 2014
But bluster was all it was: Carter entered and left the building without incident.
After Uproar, No One Shows To Protest Jimmy Carter At Yeshiva University
Aryeh Younger
April 10, 2013
This is, of course, bluster, yet the harsh words come at a particularly sensitive moment.
‘The State of War’—Kim Jong-un’s Bombastic, and Ominous, Bluster
Gordon G. Chang
March 30, 2013
The movement has gotten by on cliché and bluster and Scotch tape.
The Case for Transformation
Michael Tomasky
January 23, 2013
By contrast, George W. Bush launched two disastrous wars, and in so doing gave GOP bluster a bad name.
Romney Response to Egypt Embassy Attack Makes It Easy for Obama
Peter Beinart
September 13, 2012

Historical Examples

In any case, he saw that there was nothing he could hope to gain by violence or bluster.
It Happened in Egypt
C. N. Williamson
"I don't know and I don't care," Barnes answered with a weak attempt at bluster.
The Avenger
E. Phillips Oppenheim
But he of The Blunder and Bluster was a much higher style of man.
The International Monthly, Volume 3, No. 2, May, 1851
Various
I, who whip round corners and bluster, relapse and evade, then rally and pursue!
The Golden Age
Kenneth Grahame
Mr. Hapgood's bluster collapsed, like a punctured toy balloon.
Cap'n Dan's Daughter
Joseph C. Lincoln

British Dictionary definitions for bluster

bluster

verb

to speak or say loudly or boastfully
to act in a bullying way
(tr, foll by into) to force or attempt to force (a person) into doing something by behaving thus
(intr) (of the wind) to be noisy or gusty

noun

boisterous talk or action; swagger
empty threats or protests
a strong wind; gale

Derived Formsblusterer, nounblustering, noun, adjectiveblusteringly or blusterously, adverbblustery or blusterous, adjective

Word Origin

C15: probably from Middle Low German blüsteren to storm, blow violently

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for bluster

v.

late 14c., from a Low German source, e.g. Middle Low German blüstren "to blow violently," East Frisian blüstern "to bluster" (see blow (v.1)). Related: Blustered; blustering.

n.

1580s, from bluster (v.).

bluster

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Synonyms

Examples from the Web for bluster

Contemporary Examples

Consequently, the ones who suffer the brunt of your bluster are not Muslims in other nations that you may want to influence.

But bluster was all it was: Carter entered and left the building without incident.

This is, of course, bluster, yet the harsh words come at a particularly sensitive moment.

The movement has gotten by on cliché and bluster and Scotch tape.

By contrast, George W. Bush launched two disastrous wars, and in so doing gave GOP bluster a bad name.

Historical Examples

In any case, he saw that there was nothing he could hope to gain by violence or bluster.

"I don't know and I don't care," Barnes answered with a weak attempt at bluster.

But he of The Blunder and Bluster was a much higher style of man.

I, who whip round corners and bluster, relapse and evade, then rally and pursue!

Mr. Hapgood's bluster collapsed, like a punctured toy balloon.

bluster

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for bluster

v.

n.

Origin of bluster