flusters

Verb

fluster (third-person singular simple present flusters, present participle flustering, simple past and past participle flustered)

1. (transitive) To throw (someone) into a state of confusion or panic; to befuddle, to confuse.
   • The aged housekeeper was no less flustered and hurried in obeying the numerous and contradictory commands of her mistress, […]1816, [Walter Scott], chapter V, in The Antiquary. […], volume III, Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC, page...

   Synonyms:

   agitate, bewilder, addle, baffle, vex, lose, embroil, stick, stump, baffound

2. (transitive) To make emotionally overwhelmed or visibly embarrassed, especially in a sexual or romantic context.
   1. (broadly, transitive) To turn on, to make horny.
3. (dated, transitive) To make (someone) feel flushed and hot through drinking alcoholic beverages; also, to make (someone) slightly drunk or tipsy.
   • Three lads of Cypres, noble ſvvelling ſpirits, / That hold their honour, in a vvary diſtance, / The very Elements of this vvarlike Iſle, / Haue I tonight fluſtred vvith flovving cups, / And the vvatch too: novv mongſt this flocke of drunkards, / I am to put our Caſsio in ſome action, / That may...c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Tragœdy of Othello, the Moore of Venice. […] (First Quarto), London: […] N[icholas] O[kes] for Thomas Walkley, […], published 1622, →OCLC, [Act...
4. (intransitive) To be agitated and confused; to bustle.
   • He seemed to fluster when speaking in front of many people.
5. (intransitive) To become overwhelmed or visibly embarrassed, especially in a sexual or romantic context.

See all 13 meanings of fluster