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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Cubs fell behind, three games to one, but then went into curse-buster mode … and won Game 5 (at Wrigley), Game 6 (in Cleveland) and Game 7 (in Cleveland). Jayson Stark, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025 Willie Simmons is a streak-buster. Alex Krutchik, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2025 That’s a nice surprise for those of us who are tired of pretending that rocking chairs and flickering flashlights were ever scary — but a brutal slap in the face for anyone still taking these con-artist ghost busters seriously. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025 He's been the union-buster in chief. Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for buster

Word History

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of buster was in 1614

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Cite this Entry

“Buster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buster. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

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