gustiest

Gustiest is the superlative of gusty and means “the windiest” or “having the strongest gusts.” It is used when comparing places, times, weather conditions, or individual winds according to how forcefully the air moves. A sentence such as “These were the gustiest winds of the winter” places the wind at the extreme end of a scale, while “the gustiest afternoon on record” can apply more broadly to a period characterized by violent, sudden wind. The word is not restricted to literal weather: writers may also use it for strong crosswinds, turbulent conditions, or situations driven by forceful air. Its connotations are stronger than merely windy, often suggesting disruption, difficulty, or severe conditions, although it can appear in neutral sports and weather reports. Gustiest is standard in British and American English and is formed regularly by adding the superlative suffix -est to gusty.

The superlative of gusty: having the strongest winds or the most violent gusts of air.

Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.

Etymology of gustiest

Gustiest ultimately derives from the English noun gust, which was borrowed from Old Norse gust, a word associated with wind. English developed the adjective gusty and, through regular inflection, the superlative gustiest. Related forms such as gusting and gustily continue to use the same Germanic word as their source.

How gustiest is actually used

Usually modifies winds, weather, or conditions. It is more emphatic than merely windy and can suggest storminess, disruption, or severe conditions, although it can also be neutral in technical or sporting contexts.

Easily confused with gustiest

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Words and phrases paired with gustiest

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Rhymes with gustiest