blustery

[ bluhs-tuh-ree ]

adjective

1. characterized by strong, gusty wind:

   It's a blustery day, with a stiff westerly whipping across the valley keeping the temperature on the cool side.

2. full of bravado and empty boasts, threats, or protests:

   Without these two arrogant, blustery leaders, the two sides would likely have solved their problems and worked things out.

Other Words From

• blus·ter·ous·ly adverb
• un·blus·ter·ous adjective
• un·blus·ter·ous·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of blustery¹

bluster ( def ) + -y ¹( def )

Example Sentences

“The increasing specificity of Trump’s tariff threats,” he said, “both in terms of the amounts and the countries to be targeted, indicates the strong possibility that these are looming actions rather than just blustery threats.”

From Salon

Lutnick, who speaks with a New York accent and is known for his blustery style, wept on TV in the days after.

From BBC

Francis Jue’s Victory Lap: Seventeen years after he first appeared in “Yellow Face,” the veteran actor has returned with a nuanced performance as a blustery patriarch.

From New York Times

This region is one that has seen many fires over the years, especially in the autumn when Santa Ana winds pick up along this “favorable corridor” for the dry, blustery winds, Cohen said.

From Los Angeles Times

After a cold and blustery weekend, the weather is expected to turn milder and wetter in the coming days.

From BBC

Related Words

• gusty
• howling
• turbulent
• windy