gangbuster

noun

gang·​bust·​er ˈgaŋ-ˌbə-stər 

: one engaged in the aggressive breakup of organized criminal gangs

Phrases

like gangbusters

: with great or excessive force or aggressiveness

came on like gangbusters

also : with great speed or success

was selling like gangbusters

Examples of gangbuster in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The renewable-energy side hasn’t been going gangbusters as of late. —Jon Chesto, BostonGlobe.com, 11 June 2023

Slower hiring could suggest that the job market is moving toward a more sustainable balance after two years of gangbusters gains that followed the economy's explosive rebound from the 2020 pandemic recession. —Christopher Rugaber, BostonGlobe.com, 2 June 2023

The gangbusters report comes as other retailers have reported a pullback in consumer spending this season: Some of the largest stores are warning of trouble ahead, American bank accounts are dwindling and debt is growing. —Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 25 May 2023

Things were going gangbusters for the Roseanne reboot, with critical acclaim and high ratings in the midst of the streaming revolution. —Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 18 May 2023

Word History

Etymology

gang entry 1 + bust entry 2 + -er entry 2

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gangbuster

• adjuster
• baluster
• blockbuster
• combustor
• lackluster
• bluster
• buster
• cluster
• duster
• juster
• luster
• lustre