buster

noun bust·er \ ˈbəs-tər \

Updated on: 25 May 2018

Definition of buster

1 a chiefly Midland : someone or something extraordinary

a buster of a breakfast
—Harriet 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

[short for broncobuster]

: a person who breaks horses

4 : a bad fall

See buster defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of buster from the Web

Related stories from Fort Worth Star Telegram Price busters: Rangers rock Red Sox starter, score season-high 11 runs 'Good sign' for Adrian Beltre, as Rougned Odor closes in on rehab Aaaaw!

— stefan stevenson, star-telegram, "Rangers Reaction: Thursday had an all-around legendary vibe to it | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 3 May 2018
This tends to happen when would-be trust-busters bring a case divorced from economic reality.

— the editorial board, WSJ, "Trump’s Antitrust Bust," 1 May 2018
As the name suggest, the party rolls out all the best bops from Daft Punk, as well as related artists, for those who are somewhere between dramatic move-buster and reluctant wallflower.

— adam lukach, RedEye Chicago, "5 things to do in Chicago this weekend," 21 Dec. 2017
Pitcher Dinelson Lamet succeeded Liriano as a potential drought-buster two years ago.

— tom krasovic, sandiegouniontribune.com, "On Franchy, "Franimal" and Padres' droughts someday ending," 7 May 2018
Sandra and Min had served on the school’s hospitality committee for the past two years, and, before that, on the lice-buster team.

— junot díaz, The New Yorker, "A Flawless Silence," 17 Apr. 2018
But too much of a clot-buster could lead to bleeds, so once the process is sparked, the body rapidly clears out tPA.

— karen weintraub, STAT, "At 88, this doctor won’t give up on a long-ignored treatment for strokes and heart attacks," 6 Apr. 2018
The show employs the standard rehab formula: budget-buster surprises, tight time frames, demolition delight and lots of perennial potential.

— r. daniel foster, latimes.com, "Reality Realty: Woodsy retreats featured on HGTV’s ‘Rustic Rehab’," 13 Apr. 2018
The projects aren't budget busters because each field will connect to an existing oil platform.

— jordan blum, Houston Chronicle, "BP, Shell make new North Sea commitments," 10 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'buster.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of buster

1614

in the meaning defined at sense 3

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BUSTER Defined for English Language Learners

buster

noun

Definition of buster for English Language Learners

: a person or thing that stops or prevents something
: a person or thing that breaks something apart
—used to address a man who is behaving in a way you do not like

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