as in filled
containing or seeming to contain the greatest quantity or number possible
the store was bursting with bargain hunters on the day of the big sale
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in exploding
to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure
the turnover's crust burst when the filling expanded
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shattering
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bursting
Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Sometimes starting out feeling more like winter with snow and cold, and other year's bursting into bloom.
—Bailey Allen, The Providence Journal, 21 Mar. 2026
With an elegant silhouette bursting with intricate featherwork, the gown also seemed to reference the iridescent, dark plumage of the label’s Fall-Winter 2012 show.
—Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026
This 2024 debut novel by Kaveh Akbar, the poetry editor at The Nation, is an unflinching tour-de-force bursting with wit and insight into the complications of diaspora, the nature of identity in a post-War on Terror world and the inter-generational impact of the 1979 Revolution on Iranians.
—Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 3 Mar. 2026
This includes both 2000 and 2007, when bubbles bursting coincided with painful recessions.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 Feb. 2026
This helps water flow as the ice melts and relieves pressure, reducing the risk of the pipe bursting.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 27 Jan. 2026
While plumbers said winter is known for pipes bursting, once the weather starts thawing out in the spring, their call volume picks up.
—Marissa Sulek, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
Strategy was formerly known as MicroStrategy — going public in June 1998 at $10 a share — promptly sprinting up 31-fold to around $320 before sinking fast in the wake of the dot-com bubble bursting and the revelation of dodgy revenue accounting at the analytics software company.
—Peter Cohan, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Jake Angelo, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2026
Lendeborg today feels like an overnight sensation, bursting on the scene in his maize-and-blue out of nowhere.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
Like the first incident, the Coco robot reportedly swerved into the bus shelter while making a delivery and only stopped after bursting through it.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 26 Mar. 2026
As spring blooming bulbs, tulips are often associated with renewal, bursting forth after the last winter freeze.
—Michelle Mastro, Architectural Digest, 24 Mar. 2026
At a slim 76 minutes, Sparks pulls you in tight and never lets go, every frame bursting with teen angst and longing.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 20 Mar. 2026
Sans jacket, Pascal made a statement with a bursting floral that accented his tuxedo shirt with pearl buttons.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 16 Mar. 2026
Walker tapped his feet slowly to head that direction before bursting back toward Tonga’s left.
—Jesse Newell, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
On this quick journey, the train travels through Noordwijkerhout, a town that comes into full bloom in the spring with thousands of flowers bursting through the soil.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2026
Noun
The end of Sora is most certainly not the first domino or the bursting of the AI bubble.
—Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Sometimes starting out feeling more like winter with snow and cold, and other year's bursting into bloom.
—Bailey Allen, The Providence Journal, 21 Mar. 2026
With an elegant silhouette bursting with intricate featherwork, the gown also seemed to reference the iridescent, dark plumage of the label’s Fall-Winter 2012 show.
—Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026
This 2024 debut novel by Kaveh Akbar, the poetry editor at The Nation, is an unflinching tour-de-force bursting with wit and insight into the complications of diaspora, the nature of identity in a post-War on Terror world and the inter-generational impact of the 1979 Revolution on Iranians.
—Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 3 Mar. 2026
This includes both 2000 and 2007, when bubbles bursting coincided with painful recessions.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 Feb. 2026
This helps water flow as the ice melts and relieves pressure, reducing the risk of the pipe bursting.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 27 Jan. 2026
While plumbers said winter is known for pipes bursting, once the weather starts thawing out in the spring, their call volume picks up.
—Marissa Sulek, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
Strategy was formerly known as MicroStrategy — going public in June 1998 at $10 a share — promptly sprinting up 31-fold to around $320 before sinking fast in the wake of the dot-com bubble bursting and the revelation of dodgy revenue accounting at the analytics software company.
—Peter Cohan, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
In the dotcom era, the economists explained, the economy reflected the latter scenario, where gains failed to show, bursting the bubble.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2026
Lendeborg today feels like an overnight sensation, bursting on the scene in his maize-and-blue out of nowhere.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
Like the first incident, the Coco robot reportedly swerved into the bus shelter while making a delivery and only stopped after bursting through it.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 26 Mar. 2026
As spring blooming bulbs, tulips are often associated with renewal, bursting forth after the last winter freeze.
—Michelle Mastro, Architectural Digest, 24 Mar. 2026
At a slim 76 minutes, Sparks pulls you in tight and never lets go, every frame bursting with teen angst and longing.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 20 Mar. 2026
Sans jacket, Pascal made a statement with a bursting floral that accented his tuxedo shirt with pearl buttons.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 16 Mar. 2026
Walker tapped his feet slowly to head that direction before bursting back toward Tonga’s left.
—Jesse Newell, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
On this quick journey, the train travels through Noordwijkerhout, a town that comes into full bloom in the spring with thousands of flowers bursting through the soil.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bursting
Adjective
-
The new system allows citations to be transmitted electronically and enter the court records system pre-filled.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
This comforter is pre-filled and designed to be two inches wider than standard sizes for an extra-plush feel and complete bed coverage.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The eruption of an Icelandic volcano kept some artists from getting to the festival, including The Cribs and Frightened Rabbit.—
Vanessa Franko,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Home to the volcanic eruptions that have been hitting headlines since 2023, the country’s geothermal power is on full display.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Ponson had heard the lore of fast-developing storms in the northern Gulf — systems that escaped the notice of meteorologists — before exploding into near-gale winds, towering waves and rare but deadly storms.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
5 Apr. 2026
-
But Explosive News’ videos might be the world’s most potent example of slopaganda yet, changing hearts and minds—or at least generating lots of clicks—one exploding toy battleship at a time.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But customers should not expect earth-shattering menu changes.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
2 Apr. 2026
-
With large hailstones capable of shattering windshields and denting vehicles, meteorologists are urging residents to move cars into garages, covered parking areas or sheltered spots.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Numbers aside, the sleeveless look had his teammates buzzing.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The buzzing grew, steady and direct, and the drone emerged from between city buildings, cut through the rain, and stopped inches from Pok.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Saturday’s final score, 9-0 in the visitor’s favor, only partially encapsulates the degree to which New York (5-4) outplayed San Francisco (3-6) in front of a packed house that had more reasons to groan than reasons to cheer.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Diehard fans banged bass drums, songs emanated from the supporters’ wall and a packed stadium of 7,211 buzzed all the way through stoppage time of a tense game.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Days after the explosion, Amin called his mother in Iran again, with better news.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
However, an oxygen-tank explosion 56 hours after launch scotched those plans and put the mission into survival mode.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Named after the infamous Japanese suicide pilots of World War II, these kinds of drones can actively hunt for targets, track them, and then ram into them, detonating their explosive payloads.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Apr. 2026
-
To kick-start the program, Teller wanted to create an instant harbor by burying, and then detonating, five thermonuclear bombs in an Indigenous village in coastal northwestern Alaska.—
The Conversation,
Fortune,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bursting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bursting. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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