bluster

American  

[bluhs-ter] / ˈblʌs tər /

verb (used without object)

1. to roar and be tumultuous, as wind.

2. to be loud, noisy, or swaggering; utter loud, empty menaces or protests.

   He blusters about revenge but does nothing.

   Synonyms:

   gloat, boast, brag, rant

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verb (used with object)

1. to force or accomplish by blustering.

   He blustered his way through the crowd.

   Synonyms:

   bully, storm, threaten

noun

1. boisterous noise and violence.

   the bluster of the streets.

2. noisy, empty threats or protests; inflated talk.

   bluff and bluster.

bluster British  

/ ˈblʌstə /

verb

1. to speak or say loudly or boastfully

2. to act in a bullying way

3. to force or attempt to force (a person) into doing something by behaving thus

4. (intr) (of the wind) to be noisy or gusty

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noun

1. boisterous talk or action; swagger

2. empty threats or protests

3. a strong wind; gale

Other Word Forms

• blusterer noun
• blustering noun
• blusteringly adverb
• blusterous adjective
• blustery adjective
• outbluster verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of bluster

First recorded in 1520–30; perhaps from Low German blustern, blüstern “to blow violently”; compare Old Norse blāstr “blowing, hissing”

Example Sentences

Students treat institutional rituals as a farce and openly mock their principal - calling him Yamdoot after the Hindu god of death - a blustering figure who addresses them as "My dear donkey".

From BBC

“The market is still of the mind that we are going to see this kind of bluster from the get-go — an opening salvo that’s pretty aggressive,” Melson said.

From MarketWatch

The tough talk from the White House might be just bluster, but the U.S. stock market sank in Tuesday trading and was on track for its worst loss in two months.

From MarketWatch

Strickland’s lawyer said that Strickland’s claims and promises to Boyd were all bluster.

From The Wall Street Journal

“There’s a strong hope that it’s just bluster — that, given Colombia has a sovereign government that the U.S. recognizes and has long worked with, it’s understood it would be catastrophic for the relationship,” Ellis said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bulldoze
• gloat
• hector
• swagger
• yap