FLUSTER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does fluster mean? 

• FLUSTER (noun)
  The noun FLUSTER has 1 sense:

1. a disposition that is confused or nervous and upset

  Familiarity information: FLUSTER used as a noun is very rare.

• FLUSTER (verb)
  The verb FLUSTER has 2 senses:

1. be flustered; behave in a confused manner

2. cause to be nervous or upset

  Familiarity information: FLUSTER used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FLUSTER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A disposition that is confused or nervous and upset

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

fluster; perturbation

Hypernyms ("fluster" is a kind of...):

discomposure (a temperament that is perturbed and lacking in composure)

Derivation:

fluster (cause to be nervous or upset)

fluster (be flustered; behave in a confused manner)

• FLUSTER (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they fluster    ... he / she / it flusters   
Past simple: flustered   
Past participle: flustered   
-ing form: flustering   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Be flustered; behave in a confused manner

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "fluster" is one way to...):

acquit; bear; behave; carry; comport; conduct; deport (behave in a certain manner)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

fluster (a disposition that is confused or nervous and upset)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Cause to be nervous or upset

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "fluster" is one way to...):

confuse; disconcert; flurry; put off (cause to feel embarrassment)

Cause:

fluster (be flustered; behave in a confused manner)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "fluster"):

ruffle (discompose)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence examples:

The bad news will fluster him
The good news will fluster her

Derivation:

fluster (a disposition that is confused or nervous and upset)

 Context examples 

A question about whether an individual does or did get rattled or flustered.

(Did You Get Rattled, Upset, or Flustered, NCI Thesaurus)

So flustered was she by two such grand young people asking for her lodger, that she forgot to invite them to sit down in the little parlor.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Nevertheless, I am in a dream, a flustered, happy, hurried dream.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Everything turned out well, which was a mercy, Hannah said, For my mind was that flustered, Mum, that it's a merrycle I didn't roast the pudding, and stuff the turkey with raisins, let alone bilin' of it in a cloth.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)