bluster

[ bluhs-ter ]

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

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

/ ˈblʌstə /

verb

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

noun

1. boisterous talk or action; swagger
2. empty threats or protests
3. a strong wind; gale

Derived Forms

• ˈblustery, adjective
• ˈblustering, nounadjective
• ˈblusteringly, adverb
• ˈblusterer, noun

Other Words From

• blus·ter·er noun
• blus·ter·ing·ly adverb
• blus·ter·y blus·ter·ous adjective
• out·blus·ter verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of bluster¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of bluster¹

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

Example Sentences

Beyond his assertions of power, Mr. Ramaswamy is given to citing a blizzard of federal legal codes to back his bluster.

From New York Times

“The whole man and science thing, I think, is just like a bluster. He thinks it looks good.”

From Salon

Second, for all the Yankees’ bluster Tuesday — they pounded out nine hits with three home runs — their best slugger still isn’t slugging.

From Los Angeles Times

When they didn’t, he blustered over the course of half a dozen hearings, at one point threatening to bulldoze Brentwood’s pool or fill it with sand.

From Los Angeles Times

Many pundits expect that this election will feature a bigger-than-ever gender gap between women, mobilized to support Vice President Kamala Harris because of her stance on abortion, and men, drawn to Trump’s blustering machismo.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bulldoze
• gloat
• hector
• swagger
• yap