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

Elon Musk’s space exploration company has filed preliminary paperwork to sell shares to the public, according to two sources familiar with the filing, a blockbuster offering that would likely rank as the biggest ever and could make its founder the world’s first trillionaire. —Bernard Condon, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026

The book was quickly acquired by Warner Bros, which set Brian DePalma to direct a film which seemed to have blockbuster written all over it. —Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026

Increasingly, a generation that grew up with smartphones, iPads and Netflix is propelling today’s biggest blockbusters. —ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026

Sam Levinson’s blockbuster TV hit picks up five years after the events of Season 2, with the characters played by Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi, Hunter Schafer, Alexa Demie and Maude Apatow now out of high school. —Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 2 Apr. 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
• muster

Kids Definition

blockbuster

noun

block·​bust·​er ˈbläk-ˌbəs-tər 

: one that is very large, successful, or violent

a blockbuster of a movie