fluster
|flus-ter|
🇺🇸
/ˈflʌstər/
🇬🇧
/ˈflʌstə/
agitated confusion
Etymology
'fluster' likely originates from Middle English or an imitative origin (probable Middle English 'flustren' or dialectal forms) describing a state of commotion or agitation.
'fluster' appears in early Modern English in forms such as 'flustren' or dialectal variants and evolved into the standard modern English 'fluster' with the same general sense of causing agitation or confusion.
Initially it conveyed the sense of 'disturb or agitate' and this basic meaning has largely been retained in modern English as 'to make (someone) upset, confused, or nervous.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a state of agitation or confusion; a flurried or hurried condition.
He was in a fluster right before his speech.
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Verb 1
to make (someone) confused, agitated, or nervous; to cause to become flurried.
Don't fluster him with too many questions before the interview.
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Verb 2
to become confused, agitated, or nervous (intransitive).
When the presenter skipped a slide, he began to fluster and lose his place.
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Idioms
Last updated: 2025/10/22 09:43