hurly-burly
noun
hur·ly-bur·ly ˌhər-lē-ˈbər-lē 
: uproar, tumult
hurly-burly adjective
Synonyms
- ado
- alarums and excursions
- ballyhoo
- blather
- bluster
- bobbery
- bother
- bustle
- clatter
- clutter [chiefly dialect]
- coil
- commotion
- corroboree [Australian]
- disturbance
- do [chiefly dialect]
- foofaraw
- fun
- furor
- furore
- fuss
- helter-skelter
- hoo-ha
- hoo-hah
- hoopla
- hubble-bubble
- hubbub
- hullabaloo
- hurly
- hurricane
- hurry
- hurry-scurry
- hurry-skurry
- kerfuffle [chiefly British]
- moil
- pandemonium
- pother
- row
- ruckus
- ruction
- rumpus
- shindy
- splore [Scottish]
- squall
- stew
- stir
- storm
- to-do
- tumult
- turmoil
- uproar
- welter
- whirl
- williwaw
- zoo
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
Etymology
probably alteration & reduplication of hurling, gerund of hurl
First Known Use
1539, in the meaning defined above
hurly-burly
noun
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity lost sight of his children in all the hurly-burly of the fair Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- commotion
- disturbance
- hurry
- turmoil
- fuss
- stir
- bustle
- hubbub
- noise
- clatter
- racket
- tumult
- storm
- clutter
- fun
- pandemonium
- hullabaloo
- hoopla
- hurricane
- hurly
- zoo
- rumpus
- furore
- hurry-scurry
- blather
- welter
- ruckus
- pother
- row
- ballyhoo
- ado
- kerfuffle
- helter-skelter
- bluster
- furor
- hoo-hah
- uproar
- foofaraw
- shindy
- roar
- squall
- ruction
- flurry
- upheaval
- hoo-ha
- bother
- coil
- moil
- stew
- corroboree
- whirl
- cacophony
- din
- bobbery
- to-do
- hurry-skurry
- hubble-bubble
- splore
- clamor
- alarums and excursions
- unrest
- do
- outcry
- williwaw
- disorder
- fray
- eruption
- howl
- brawl
- melee
- scuffle
- fracas
- outbreak
- mêlée
- flutter
- outburst
- tizzy
- fret
- fever
- dither
- hue and cry
- hassle
- flare-up
- lather
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- rest
- tranquility
- peace
- quiet
- tranquillity
- calm
- stillness
- quietude
- hush
- order
- orderliness