gangbuster

noun gang·bust·er \ ˈgaŋ-ˌbə-stər \

Updated on: 13 Apr 2018

Definition of gangbuster

: one engaged in the aggressive breakup of organized criminal gangs

— like gangbusters

: with great or excessive force or aggressiveness

came on like gangbusters

; also : with great speed or success

was selling like gangbusters

Recent Examples of gangbuster from the Web

There is no silver bullet here that will make the biosimilar market go gangbusters.

— adam feuerstein, STAT, "In bid to lower prices, Gottlieb says FDA will take new action to speed approval of biosimilars," 28 Mar. 2018
And like Amazon, this company has been growing like gangbusters!

— eric bleeker, USA TODAY, "This 37-year-old CEO is betting $1.1 billion on 1 stock," 20 Mar. 2018
Off Broadway revival, starring Michael Urie as Arnold and Mercedes Ruehl as his mother, played like gangbusters.

— jesse green, New York Times, "A Brief History of Gay Theater, in Three Acts," 26 Feb. 2018
But MacCauley says business has been gangbusters since Trump took office a year ago.

— Time, "Why Trump’s ‘Forgotten Man’ Still Supports Him," 15 Feb. 2018
Oh, yes, Ms. Maxwell could sing and dance like gangbusters, when the occasion required it.

— ben brantley, New York Times, "Jan Maxwell Was a Star Made for the Stage," 12 Feb. 2018
While some artists made last-minute sales under rainy skies, festival organizers decided to close the event a half hour early at 4:30 p.m. Organizers and artists had been hopeful about this year’s festival because the economy is going gangbusters.

— jerry fallstrom, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Mount Dora Arts Festival artist lauds 'great' event, even though rain hampers second day," 7 Feb. 2018
Comparisons were instantly made to Cleveland’s infamous Torso Murders, which had fascinated and horrified people across the country in the 1930s and remained unsolved, despite the fact that famous gangbuster Eliot Ness led the case.

— douglas perry, OregonLive.com, "'The most cold-blooded, cowardly treachery': 22 murder cases that rocked Oregon," 22 Jan. 2018
Then again, Good has raised money like gangbusters, almost $88,000 in her first month of fundraising, Sept. 15-Oct.

— dan sweeney, Sun-Sentinel.com, "2017 looks to be banner year for Florida special legislative elections," 1 Nov. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of gangbuster

¹gang + ²bust + ²-er

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First Known Use: 1930

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