blus·ter

(blŭs′tər)

v. blus·tered, blus·ter·ing, blus·ters

v.intr.

1. To blow in loud, violent gusts, as the wind during a storm.

a. To speak in a loudly arrogant or bullying manner.

b. To brag or make loud, empty threats.

v.tr.

To force or bully with swaggering threats.

1. A violent, gusty wind.

2. Turbulence or noisy confusion.

3. Loud, arrogant speech, often full of empty threats.

[Middle English blusteren, from Middle Low German blüsteren.]

blus′ter·er n.

blus′ter·y, blus′ter·ous adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Adj.

blusterous - blowing in violent and abrupt bursts; "blustering (or blusterous) winds of Patagonia"; "a cold blustery day"; "a gusty storm with strong sudden rushes of wind"

blustering, blustery

stormy - (especially of weather) affected or characterized by storms or commotion; "a stormy day"; "wide and stormy seas"

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

Well, Pip; this same identical, which his manners is given to blusterous, come to me at the Bargemen (wot a pipe and a pint of beer do give refreshment to the working-man, Sir, and do not over stimilate), and his word were, 'Joseph, Miss Havisham she wish to speak to you.'"

View in context

I've been a blusterous old husband to you, dear, but you'll just bear in mind that G.

View in context

From being blusterous and belligerent, Trump can suddenly become amiable and conciliatory, only to abruptly revert to his aggressive stance.

Trade war on hold?

THE view of the blusterous President Erdogan that a significant obstacle to a Cyprus settlement was the Greek Cypriots' insistence that Cyprus was a Greek island triggered the curiosity of a Turkish Cypriot, Ahmed, who decided to make his maiden visit to 'South Cyprus', and find out for himself whether the Turkish president's claim was correct.

Rejecting political equality means permanent deadlock

Quite apart from his growing legal troubles, in the month of July a sudden sharp depreciation of the rupee, followed by an announcement by the State Bank that the new, depreciated rate was more 'in line with the macroeconomic fundamentals' of the economy was the first blow to Dar's blusterous confidence.

The year of Dar's reckoning

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