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
Pent-up emotions, regrets, and bestial longings all burst forth in an expansive baritone whose confident quietism distinguishes him from other wispier alt-centric brooders like Daniel Caesar. Will Dukes, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2025 Carter is an athletic freak who lives in opposing backfields with his combination of physicality, burst, bend, and arsenal of pass-rush moves. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
Noun
With Baggy Jeans and a Cool-Girl Top A casual pair of jeans gets a burst of off-duty model energy thanks to Adidas Samba’s and Lapointe’s lightweight cape top. Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 29 Apr. 2025 Carter has the type of burst off the ball that strikes fear in the eyes of blockers and will help the Giants’ defense get off the field. Dane Brugler, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for burst
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burst
Verb
  • The comments exploded with anecdotes from other women in fields who have similarly faced being misidentified or overlooked due to longstanding stereotypes.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
  • During the two most recent Starship launches, the vehicle's upper stage exploded over the Atlantic Ocean, showering chunks of debris across a wide stretch and creating a artificial meteor shower for people across The Bahamas and Florida's Space Coast.
    Josh Dinner, Space.com, 8 May 2025
Verb
  • Public trust has been shattered, and a change was needed so the system can begin to rebuild.
    Kaitlin McCallum, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Tobias is shattered by the negative response, but Gabin’s aggression doesn’t do anything to pull Tobias together.
    Oliver Sava, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • That’s Meghan addressing her children, by the way, not their bulging one-way inboxes.
    Claire Cohen, Vogue, 30 Apr. 2025
  • The $499 Pixel 9a is a refreshing take on modern smartphones, thanks to its clean rear design and lack of a bulging camera module – similar to Apple’s iPhone 16e.
    Prakhar Khanna, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • But the Magic were playing their best all-around game of the series up until the flurry of fouls by Banchero.
    The Athletic NBA Staff, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
  • But the selling returned on Wednesday, with the weak GDP report raising concerns that the chaos caused by Trump’s policy flurry may have already pushed the economy toward a recession before any substantial trade deals are enacted.
    Sean Conlon,Pia Singh, CNBC, 29 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Martin's son Gabe, hiding alone under a blanket, said the explosion left his ears ringing and smelled like burning batteries.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
  • The explosion of laws meant to protect minors from potentially harmful online content perhaps sounds noble at first glance, but with a second pass the laws read as superfluous.
    John Tamny, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Leonard has been a solid scorer throughout this series, including his 39-point eruption in Game 2.
    Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
  • Such isotopic spikes have revealed what may be the most powerful solar eruption in relatively recent history, an event that occurred in 7176 B.C.E. Scientists argued at first about the cause of these spikes; the sun’s activity didn’t seem powerful enough to create the amounts of isotopes seen.
    Phil Plait, Scientific American, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • Written by Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling, the film follows an airliner threatened by a bomb that will detonate if the plane drops below 4,000 feet.
    Kayti Burt, Time, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Music seizes the reins and detonates the studied historicity viewers expect from stories about 20th-century music, pausing to highlight points the reader normally catches in articles about a movie rather than scenes in it: Yes, the blues begat both DOOM and doom.
    Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Mexican soldiers wearing gas masks and white Hazmat suits smash through the remaining equipment in sweltering 96-degree Fahrenheit heat, stopping occasionally to mop up sweat pouring from their faces.
    Isobel Yeung, CNN Money, 2 May 2025
  • Two pitches later, Giolito missed with another hanging changeup and Alejandro Kirk smashed it for a solo homer.
    Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 1 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Burst.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burst. Accessed 13 May. 2025.

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