blustery

/ˈblʌs.tər.i/
strong and noisy wind

The blustery winds made it difficult to walk outside.

The strong, gusty winds made walking outside challenging.


neutral

Characterized by strong, often noisy, winds.

A blustery day kept many people indoors.

The strong winds on a blustery day discouraged outdoor activities.

The blustery autumn weather made the trees sway violently.

The gusty autumn winds caused the trees to move forcefully.

Often describes windy weather, especially in autumn or winter. Can also metaphorically describe loud or aggressive behavior (e.g., 'a blustery speech').

Collocations

blustery weatherweather with strong, noisy windsblustery daya day with strong, gusty windsblustery winda strong, often noisy wind

Pro Tip

Describing weather

Use 'blustery' to emphasize the strength and noise of the wind, especially in autumn or winter. Example: 'The blustery afternoon made the walk unpleasant.'

Gold Rule

Avoid overuse

'Blustery' is best reserved for strong, noisy winds. For mild breezes, use 'breezy' instead.

Word Origin

From Middle English 'blusteren' (to blow violently), likely imitative of wind sounds. First recorded in the 16th century.

Usage Notes

Commonly used to describe weather conditions but can also describe loud, aggressive speech or behavior in a figurative sense (e.g., 'The politician delivered a blustery speech').

Word Breakdown

bluster
to blow violently or make noise
root
+
-y
suffix forming adjectives
suffix
English Dictionary