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 of blockbuster

• success
• hit

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

Just months after the Metropolitan Museum of Art announced a blockbuster Lee Krasner–Jackson Pollock exhibition, galleries Olney Gleason and Gagosian have announced their own Krasner presentation, albeit at the latter’s Rue de Ponthieu space in Paris. —Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 10 June 2026

Last week’s blockbuster jobs report, with more than 265,000 jobs added when including upward employment revisions, was very welcome news to almost all Americans. —Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 10 June 2026

Roshan will next be seen starring in Krrish 4, reprising his role as superhuman Krishna Mehra in the blockbuster franchise. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 10 June 2026

The 25 responses below include movies old and new, documentaries and blockbusters and quiet indie triumphs. —Time, 10 June 2026

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
• maister

Kids Definition

blockbuster

noun

block·​bust·​er ˈbläk-ˌbəs-tər 

: one that is very large, successful, or violent

a blockbuster of a movie