buster

noun

bust·​er ˈbə-stər How to pronounce buster (audio)
1
a
chiefly Midland US : someone or something extraordinary
a buster of a breakfastHarriet B. Stowe
b
: an unusually sturdy child
c
often capitalized : fellow
usually used as a form of address
hey buster, come here
2
chiefly Australia : a sudden violent wind often coming from the south
3
: one that breaks, breaks up, or eliminates something
crime busters
: such as
a
: plow
b
[short for broncobuster] : a person who breaks horses
4
: a bad fall

Examples of buster in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Let’s Color Your Worries Away Need a stress buster? Cristian Esteban, Rolling Stone, 26 Dec. 2023 Try The Indigo Cleansing Balm or Camellia Cleansing Oil — both of these makeup busters make an excellent first step. Annie Blackman, Allure, 28 Nov. 2023 Between shopping for gifts and gatherings, not to mention all the trimmings, getting into the spirit of the season can turn into a serious budget buster. Sarah Lemire, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Nov. 2023 Others will ship family members off to nursing homes or senior villages, but that’s a budget buster too. Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2023 Rolen left an impact on the 2023 Reds One at-bat doesn’t provide enough time or space to define a slump buster. Gordon Wittenmyer, The Enquirer, 23 July 2023 The nation’s top graft buster said last month that authorities would conduct a year-long, nationwide crackdown to root out corruption in the pharmaceutical sector. BostonGlobe.com, 14 Aug. 2023 And this year doesn’t appear to be any sort of streak buster. Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2023 However, its nearly $140,000 price tag is a budget buster. Kris Van Cleave, CBS News, 14 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'buster.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of buster was in 1614

Dictionary Entries Near buster

Cite this Entry

“Buster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buster. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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