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

The news arrives after the recent release of the blockbuster Michael biopic, which portrayed Jackson as a father with an iron fist and hair-trigger temper who used physical punishment to push his sons to stardom. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 4 Aug. 2026

The biggest blockbuster happened over the weekend, when the back-to-back defending-champion Los Angeles Dodgers acquired back-to-back American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers for a package of prospects. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 3 Aug. 2026

The spinoff is billed as being akin to a true-crime docuseries/mockumentary with the Daily Planet’s Jimmy Olsen (played by Skyler Gisondo in the summer blockbuster directed by James Gunn) from Superman hosting. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 3 Aug. 2026

So what better place to fight off alien invaders in a battle that would go on to define the following decade’s worth of blockbusters? — Ew Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 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