burst 1 of 2

1
as in to explode
to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure the turnover's crust burst when the filling expanded

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2
as in to shatter
to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive finally burst the piñata open with one mighty swing of the bat

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3
as in to bulge
to be copiously supplied a young singer/dancer who seems to be bursting with energy and talent

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burst

2 of 2

noun

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of burst
Verb
This 24-inch wreath is nearly bursting with colorful foliage. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2025 What is the one thing (the collapse of a broadcaster, a rule change, et cetera) that could burst the Premier League balloon? Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
Add life with flowers and greenery From bright marigolds to hardy mums, autumn flowers thrive in cooler weather and add bursts of color to your porch. Angie Hicks, Boston Herald, 25 Sep. 2025 Teammates see his burst in practice, but also in the weight room during dead lifts. Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 25 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for burst
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burst
Verb
  • Perhaps one of the most interesting seed dispersal tactics is the ones that explode.
    Markis Hill, Kansas City Star, 26 Sep. 2025
  • And earlier this month, Ellison briefly became the richest person in the world, eclipsing Elon Musk, as Oracle’s stock exploded on its prognostications for its booming AI business.
    Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Finally, impact strength assesses a material’s ability to absorb sudden shocks without shattering, highlighting that the hardness alone doesn’t always mean toughness.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Any sense of safety that once existed in the Qatari capital – a longtime haven for Hamas officials, with the tacit agreement of the US and Israel – has now been shattered.
    Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • RAKxa Jai, meanwhile, focuses on holistic wellness, with teams of staff offering a bulging book of treatments, including crystal healing, traditional Ayurvedic treatments and Marma Healing massage.
    Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
  • The Saetbyol-4, which shares the Global Hawk's bulging fuselage design, is a reconnaissance aircraft while the Saetbyol-9, like the Reaper, is an attack drone.
    Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • After a flurry of small moves over the past week, the Charlotte Hornets made one that has bigger ramifications as training camp nears.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Yet that same 30-year period saw a flurry of research and activity to try to reduce geriatric falls and their potentially devastating consequences, from hip fractures and brain bleeds to restricted mobility, persistent pain, and institutionalization.
    Paula Span, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • One officer on the scene advised reporters to move back, saying there was a small possibility of an explosion.
    Kristen Jordan Shamus, USA Today, 28 Sep. 2025
  • One officer on scene advised news media to move back, saying there was a small possibility of an explosion.
    Andrea May Sahouri, Freep.com, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • There is only one surviving eyewitness account of the volcanic eruption that destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum.
    Dana Goodyear, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
  • Similar tectonic settings along the Aleutian and Kamchatka subduction zones have produced both major earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in recent months.
    Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Many of the bombs dropped during that period did not detonate, remaining hidden beneath the ground until construction or development work brings them to light.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2025
  • The shell was safely detonated in the woods near a local compost area by the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad the day it was found, authorities said.
    Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Boiled potatoes, on the other hand, can be ready to mash, smash, or sauce in as little as 15 minutes.
    Molly Baz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Sep. 2025
  • After a 15-year career in New Orleans smashing records with Payton, the now-46-year-old Brees connected with Payton's newest franchise QB this offseason as Nix spent several days traveling down to San Diego for visits.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Burst.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burst. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

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