Bluster

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈblÊŒs.tÉ™/
• US IPA: /ˈblÊŒs.tÉš/
• Rhymes: -ÊŒstÉ™(r)

Origin

From Middle Low German blüstren ("to blow violently")

Full definition of bluster

Noun

1. Pompous, officious talk.
• 2013-06-22, Engineers of a different kind, Private-equity nabobs bristle at being dubbed mere financiers. Piling debt onto companies’ balance-sheets is only a small part of what leveraged buy-outs are about, they insist. Improving the workings of the businesses they take over is just as core to their calling, if not more so. Much of their pleading is public-relations bluster.
2. A gust of wind.
3. Fitful noise and violence.

Synonyms

• (pompous talk) bombast

Verb

1. To speak or protest loudly.When confronted by opposition his reaction was to bluster, which often cowed the meek.
2. To act or speak in an unduly threatening manner.
• BurkeYour ministerial directors blustered like tragic tyrants.
• Sir T. MoreHe bloweth and blustereth out ... his abominable blasphemy.
• FullerAs if therewith he meant to bluster all princes into a perfect obedience to his commands.
3. To blow in strong or sudden gusts.
• MiltonAnd ever-threatening storms
  Of Chaos blustering round.

Derived terms

• blusterer
• blustering
• blusterous
• blustery

Anagrams

• butlers
• subtler