What's the difference between bluster and fluster?

Bluster


Definition:

  • (v. i.) To blow fitfully with violence and noise, as wind; to be windy and boisterous, as the weather.
  • (v. i.) To talk with noisy violence; to swagger, as a turbulent or boasting person; to act in a noisy, tumultuous way; to play the bully; to storm; to rage.
  • (v. t.) To utter, or do, with noisy violence; to force by blustering; to bully.
  • (n.) Fitful noise and violence, as of a storm; violent winds; boisterousness.
  • (n.) Noisy and violent or threatening talk; noisy and boastful language.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) North Korea's blustering defiance at the annual US-South Korean exercises masks just a little fear that they could easily be turned into an all-out attack, and seems to work on the principle that the more you shout, the safer you will be.
  • (2) For all the bluster from Coalition MPs, farming communities will lose out.
  • (3) Ed Balls's bluster is confused and hypocritical when the reality is he'd do it all again," Fallon said.
  • (4) The curse of playing Ari Gold is that Jeremy Piven may have to spend the rest of his life trying to convince the world he is not a rage-fuelled blustering asshole.
  • (5) At which point restraint becomes as powerful as the Seeds' ravenous beer-hall bluster; a ten-minute Stagger Lee is a masterclass in tension and drama, Cave balancing precariously on the crowd barrier with audience members holding him up by the boot-heel as he leans out to sing his tale of a deviant killer directly into the eyes of a hypnotised girl in white hoisted on someone's shoulders.
  • (6) Cameron added that recent warnings from banks such as Lloyds and RBS, and from firms such as BP and Shell proved that the economic and financial risks of independence were not bluff and bluster or bullying.
  • (7) A steady rise in the yes vote in recent opinion polls also established that voters did not buy "the bluff and bluster" of those opposed to independence.
  • (8) He has a pretty easy ride if he’s prepared but if he tries to bluster it could hurt him,” Mann said.
  • (9) Terre'Blanche's credibility as a political leader collapsed after the anti-black threats voiced by the extreme white right proved to be little more than bluster.
  • (10) But for all Clegg's bluster, he's not setting tough enough tests for the changes the prime minister must make to his NHS plans.
  • (11) This is nothing but bluster and hot air with precisely nothing achieved.
  • (12) The book has action, but it also has a point; it has pathos, where the film is all comic-action bluster.
  • (13) Besides the election of Trump, with all his attendant nationalist bluster and populist economic and trade pronouncements, Brexit has seen the UK turn its back on Europe on the back of economic and immigration concerns, and closer to home, the 2016 federal election culminated in the resurgence of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party.
  • (14) While many fiscal conservatives view Huckabee warily, he has a solid social conservative thread and a folksy charm that would pair well with Trump’s big city bluster.
  • (15) Underneath all the showbiz bluster, he was an old softie.
  • (16) From all accounts, he was a bully, a manipulator, and a blustering, pessimistic, emotionally dishonest man.
  • (17) Facebook Twitter Pinterest Hillary Clinton criticizes the ‘bluster and bigotry’ of the Republican campaign Before Tuesday’s elections, Clinton was ahead of Sanders by 673 to 477 pledged delegates and – with the vast majority of super delegates too – was nearly halfway to securing the 2,383 needed to clinch the Democratic nomination.
  • (18) On the other hand, if Iran is dragging its feet and compliance problems have arisen, that would make it much easier for a new president to walk away from the deal.” Einhorn also expressed doubts that a Republican president, for all of the bluster among the current crop of candidates, would actually turn his back on an agreement if it appeared to be working.
  • (19) I think I have made a lot of sacrifices,” he blustered.
  • (20) In the past, Zevon has occasionally been guilty of LA sludge-rock bluster, but these songs flash back to the rough simplicity of his original inspiration, Bob Dylan.

Fluster


Definition:

  • (v. t.) To make hot and rosy, as with drinking; to heat; hence, to throw into agitation and confusion; to confuse; to muddle.
  • (v. i.) To be in a heat or bustle; to be agitated and confused.
  • (n.) Heat or glow, as from drinking; agitation mingled with confusion; disorder.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) But isn't there a bit of him that wants to gloat; to tell all the kids who thought he was a nerd that he's now this babe magnet, this sex god, this… And now he really is flushed and flustered.
  • (2) Ben Mee was too flustered to risk a challenge, with Hazard easily cutting inside and curling a delicious shot into the far corner of Tom Heaton’s net.
  • (3) Graham Linehan , when we meet as the others grab sandwiches, is flustered from traffic but more so, I suspect, from, at the moment, being the ghost at the feast.
  • (4) While the shop assistants are aware they're playing the role of knicker pimp, of jolly hostess, I wonder if the male customers are aware of their own role, a role learned from the 1970s: flustered man in lingerie department.
  • (5) It was clear that McGregor’s barbs were getting at Diaz, who grew increasingly flustered and struggled to muster replies that went beyond a barrage of expletives.
  • (6) Romney refused to be flustered by the protesters, saying they had a right to express their views, but he brought his speech to an abrupt end soon afterwards, possibly to avoid any further disruption.
  • (7) A police officer at its north-east corner told a crowd of flustered tourists that there was an "activity" in the square and that it would be closed indefinitely.
  • (8) In 2004, George W Bush appeared flustered when asked to name three mistakes he had made as president.
  • (9) Now we’ve been told that the Egyptian government is arguing with David Cameron,” she demanded of the flustered ambassador, shooting back as he tried to answer: “Now you are stuttering.” Earlier Casson had told reporters: “No they haven’t [blocked the flights].
  • (10) Intercepting the ball in central midfield, the Serb rampaged through and beyond four flustered Dynamo players and into the area.
  • (11) Hazard had been a constant menace, flustering Arsenal to the extent that Mathieu Flamini strayed dangerously close to turning one of his crosses into his own net, and Wenger was entitled to be disappointed that his team did not do more to look for rustiness in Petr Cech, the replacement for Courtois.
  • (12) Obama more than matched Romney and ended the stronger of the two on the night, leaving the Republican candidate looking flustered at times, particularly over Libya.
  • (13) But as he began a flustered and angry speech, Griffin already knew that worse was to come.
  • (14) But a flustered Sanders failed to point out that Clinton had attended a fundraiser in Philadelphia hosted by hedge fund managers only last week.
  • (15) The PSG full-back Serge Aurier became incredibly flustered with the Chelsea striker, who received a boot to the leg for his troubles after an arm was robustly thrown into the Ivorian’s face, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic decided the best way to reintroduce himself to John Terry was to put an elbow into his head just moments before putting Laurent Blanc’s team into the lead.
  • (16) But the bloke on the other side of the net also doesn't look particularly flustered.
  • (17) It was election night and David Dimbleby had a cabinet minister on the line: "Now," he said, momentarily flustered, "here is ... Ed Ball's wife."
  • (18) The tension eased, with England were far from flustered on the pitch as they ran out comfortable winners to claim their 10th victory of Group E. They are the sixth team to achieve 100% success in a European Championship qualifying campaign and, while they have not confronted particularly daunting opponents, Hodgson welcomed the recovery from the ignominy of Brazil.
  • (19) He's been due one…Beckerman hoists a long ball forward for Findley to chase and he duly flusters Futty Danso as he tries to shepherd the ball.
  • (20) Not have their identity overlooked with a fluster of fake smiles, feathers and "fabulous, darling".