bluster
/ˈblʌs.tɚ/noun, verb
bluster is spelled B-L-U-S-T-E-R: 7 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 3 million words in written English, the 48,230th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, bluster means “Pompous, officious talk” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of bluster is blusters.
How many letters and syllables are in bluster?
| Letters | 7: B-L-U-S-T-E-R |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 3 million words; the 48,230th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is bluster?
Bluster appears about once in every 3 million words in written English, the 48,230th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce bluster?
- UK /ˈblʌs.tə/
- US /ˈblʌs.tɚ/
Bluster has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-bluster.ogg, En-au-bluster.ogg, LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-bluster.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with bluster?
8 words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as bluster from its last stressed vowel (/ʌstəɹ/):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of bluster
- blusters plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- blustering participle, present
- blustered participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does bluster mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
Pompous, officious talk.
- 2
A gust of wind.
- 3
Fitful noise and violence.
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.
- 3
To blow in strong or sudden gusts (refers to winds).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Bluster in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| German | Getöse, Aufblasen, Aufplustern, Kraftmeierei, Prahlerei, wichtigtuerisches Gerede |
| Spanish | bravatas, fanfarronadas, bravuconerías, bravuconadas , fanfarrear, fanfarronear |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does bluster come from?
From Middle English blusteren (“to wander about aimlessly”); however, apparently picking up the modern sense from Middle Low German blüstren (“to blow violently”; compare later Low German blustern, blistern). Related to blow, blast. Compare also Saterland Frisian bloasje (“to blow”), bruusje (“to bluster”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).