blockbuster

noun

block·​bust·​er ˈbläk-ˌbə-stər 

often attributive

1

: a very large high-explosive bomb

2

: one that is notably expensive, effective, successful, large, or extravagant

3

: one who engages in blockbusting

Synonyms

• hit
• megahit
• smash
• success
• supernova
• winner

Examples of blockbuster in a Sentence

a 900-page blockbuster of a novel

the movie is expected to be the biggest blockbuster of the summer

Recent Examples on the Web

For the record, Zimbabwe lost by an innings and 45 runs in the four-day Test against an England team tuning up for a blockbuster, legacy-defining stretch of Test cricket. —Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025

Fowler recovered from the injury and was notably involved in a blockbuster 2017 midseason trade that sent him to the Oakland A’s as part of the deal that netted the Yankees pitcher Sonny Gray. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 23 May 2025

Throw in offbeat sports titles, blockbuster remakes of beloved stealth-action games, and even an art-house herding game and this has all the makings of a killer 2025 mid-section. —Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 23 May 2025

Since then, she's continued to reprise her role as Letty in the Fast & Furious franchise and appeared in the Machete films and the blockbuster movie Avatar. —Lindy Segal, People.com, 23 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for blockbuster

• adjuster
• baluster
• combustor
• lackluster
• bluster
• buster
• cluster
• duster
• juster
• luster
• lustre
• muster

Kids Definition

blockbuster

noun

block·​bust·​er ˈbläk-ˌbəs-tər 

: one that is very large, successful, or violent

a blockbuster of a movie