1
as in busy
involved in often constant activity
a bustling greeter was there to welcome guests to the grand opening
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in buzzing
marked by much life, movement, or activity
a bustling shopping center during the Christmas season
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in bursting
to be copiously supplied
on Saturdays the city's downtown bustles with activity as a farmers' market sets up shop
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hurrying
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
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 bustling
Josh Rivera, USA Today, 13 May 2026
Taxis can be effortlessly hailed in most bustling neighborhoods.
—Kasia Dietz, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2026
Shaddi Abusaid, AJC.com, 22 May 2026
Matthew Rhys plays the town’s mayor, a man intent on turning the sleepy seaside hamlet into a bustling tourist destination.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for bustling
Adjective
Why Ketchikan matters Long before Ketchikan became a bustling fishing town and cruise port, the sheltered waterways of Southeast Alaska were home to Indigenous communities whose histories were carved into towering cedar totems.
—Josh Rivera, USA Today, 13 May 2026
Taxis can be effortlessly hailed in most bustling neighborhoods.
—Kasia Dietz, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2026
Verb
Authorities said the North Clayton High School student was at the bustling park with her friends last month when gunfire erupted about an hour after 404 Day celebrations wrapped up for the evening.
—Shaddi Abusaid, AJC.com, 22 May 2026
Matthew Rhys plays the town’s mayor, a man intent on turning the sleepy seaside hamlet into a bustling tourist destination.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for bustling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bustling
Adjective
-
But he's benefited from his busy daily workload and a lifetime of abstinence from tobacco and alcohol, said his physician, Sean Barbabella.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
30 May 2026
-
That could have included a certain population size within three miles, a certain demographic target nearby, a maximum of 2,500 square feet on a single floor, located on a busy intersection, with a minimum number of locations per market, etc.—
George Deeb,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
Adjective
-
The town's main thoroughfare, Anderson Avenue, is home to a buzzing variety of bars, restaurants, and shops.—
Dobrina Zhekova,
Travel + Leisure,
19 May 2026
-
Along my walkway and all over my neighborhood, nasturtium flowers are opening like bright orange suns, fragrant lavender is attracting buzzing bees, and rosemary bushes are beginning to brighten with baby blue flowers.—
Senior Food Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
There are whales and cacti; birds and deep-sea fish, or fruit and flowers bursting from the same stalk.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
27 May 2026
-
The gown's intricate design created the illusion of fireworks bursting in all directions, making Davis's look a standout on the red carpet.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
Set over the course of eight years (including the lockdown period during COVID), Herry’s film unfolds fluidly, neither hurrying scenes up unnecessarily, nor lingering too long on any incident.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
17 May 2026
-
No point hurrying toward a resolution that was always receding.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Through workshops, brain-health nutrition and other innovative tools such as exergaming — interactive technology that combines exercise with gaming — residents can explore new ways to stay engaged and nurture continued vitality.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2026
-
That underdeveloped online channel is likely why the David Bellinger of Mizuho said many of these newer digital customers appear less engaged with Costco’s traditional warehouse experience.—
Paulina Likos,
CNBC,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
For Olandria, the vibrant pink tones create the statement moment.—
Corein Carter,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
In Şanlıurfa, southeastern Turkey, sacred sites tied to the biblical figure of Abraham draw Jewish, Christian and Muslim pilgrims, while prehistoric ruins and vibrant food culture anchor a city where faith and history converge.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Nilsson’s Evening Street Scene, 1964, a bustling urban tableau, along with Two Ladies and Starry Stage Ladies, both 1967, whose focal points are women mid-strut, recall certain prints from George Grosz’s 1922–23 Ecce Homo portfolio, not in tone but in their teeming rakishness.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
With virtually no set other than some boxes and platforms that get pushed onstage so that various authority figures can tower over the teeming masses, there’s plenty of room to dance.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
Best Women’s Clothing Deals My favorite part of traveling, besides the destination itself, is curating the ultimate travel wardrobe that perfectly matches the vibe of the trip.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
29 May 2026
-
That’s where parachutes made of nylon and Kevlar are stitched together for everything from space capsules coming back to land on Earth or one day traveling to the surface of Mars or dropping military personnel on beachheads around the world.—
Pat Maio,
Oc Register,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bustling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bustling. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
