bursting 1 of 3

bursting

2 of 3

noun

as in eruption
the act or an instance of exploding narrowly escaped the bursting of the car's gas tank

Synonyms & Similar Words

bursting

3 of 3

verb

present participle of burst
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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 bursting
Noun
Whether the podcasting asset bubble bursting led directly to the ascendance of YouTube and video podcasting, or was simply incidental to the inevitable growth of YouTube podcasts, is a question reserved for podcast philosophers. Frank Racioppi, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026 Sonically, there are specific elements that an arena-bursting, chart-topping song needs. Jack Cosbie, Rolling Stone, 18 July 2026 Though his language is that of the every day his preternatural instinct for rhythm fills his lines with a bursting musicality. Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 July 2026 After the bursting of the dot-com bubble in 2000, the economy slipped into a recession in 2001 and was further shaken by the September 11 terrorist attacks. Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 22 June 2026 Dalio stressed that a bubble forming and a bubble bursting are different events. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 June 2026 In central defence, Saliba and Gabriel edge out Marquinhos and Pacho, although Gabriel must be alert to cover the space left behind by Mendes’s lung-bursting runs forward. Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 29 May 2026 Melissa are prime exemplars of how to do it right — and you’re bound to discover both the ultra-luxury and the laid-back amidst Nordstrom’s bursting-at-the-seams sale section this May. Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 26 May 2026 All Tradable index prior to the bursting of the Mississippi Bubble in 1720. Tobias Burns, CNBC, 15 May 2026
Verb
Rook’s Rest or Rhaenys on Meleys, bursting through the Dragonpit and killing scores of smallfolk. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026 Security camera footage shared by Something Fishy Pets on Facebook shows the massive tank suddenly bursting and flooding a large part of the facility as a worker runs to help. Hannah Hudnall, USA Today, 30 July 2026 How to Choose a Ripe Guava Ripe guavas are a nice treat, bursting with intense flavor. Su-Jit Lin, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 July 2026 Everything Valdez serves is uncompromising and bursting with contrasting flavors. Emma Jacobson, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 July 2026 Call it the canary yellow uniforms in the coal mine — except the Red Sox have shot up the elevator shaft, bursting from their subterranean crypt. Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 20 July 2026 All that was missing was a second goal, which Mikel Merino provided once again, bursting onto the field like a bolt of lightning from the bench in the closing minutes. Juan Claudio Matossian, Vanity Fair, 19 July 2026 Another photo showed her in a sleeveless tangerine-colored gown that featured gorgeous drapery throughout, paired with gold jewelry bursting with ornate pendants. Christina Perrier, InStyle, 17 July 2026 That the Smithsonian, which trusts its audience to handle nuanced ideas about the nation, is practically bursting with examples of American greatness and achievement is apparently not enough. Kelsey Ables, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bursting
Adjective
  • The Wall Street Journal featured Reese alongside WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson on its magazine cover, even after Caitlin Clark broke numerous records, filled arenas, and set new marks for WNBA broadcasts.
    Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
  • The new system allows citations to be transmitted electronically and enter the court records system pre-filled.
    Adam Harrington, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Approximately 1,700 people have been evacuated from at least 18 communities on the slopes of Fuego, or the Volcano of Fire, after the eruption that began on Monday.
    ABC News, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The eruption started Monday morning and had intensified by nightfall.
    CBS News, CBS News, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Then comes the crack of the bat – with the batter exploding out of the box in a full sprint, racing toward a buzzing base 100 feet away.
    Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Can new memories of music, dance, and fireworks exploding into color over an ancient, battered city undo, or even weaken, the memory of bombs falling?
    Lina Sergie Attar, Time, 6 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Anna’s colleague Noa Toussaint (CCH Pounder) follows with a video of Max coercing his mistress into suicide, shattering the narrative that bought his freedom.
    JP Mangalindan, Time, 31 July 2026
  • Twenty-nine single-family homes sold for $30 million or more in Miami-Dade in 2025, shattering the previous record of 15 homes in 2024.
    Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
Verb
  • On a recent Friday evening, a photo shoot was underway in the marble staircase and the restaurant was buzzing softly with locals who’d come to try the creative tasting menus.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
  • But each of its eight-and-a-half minutes introduces a subtle mutation, rotating buzzing electronics and quivering guitars into the spotlight.
    Arman Khan, Pitchfork, 4 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • In a city known for packed itineraries full of hikes, breweries, and bluegrass shows, Flora offers a different kind of experience, rooted in stillness and sensory pleasure.
    Jaha Nailah Avery, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2026
  • In a packed election year for Jackson County legislators, voters have narrowed down the field of who might represent them on the county’s leadership body for the next four years.
    Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Meanwhile, Iraqi pro-militia outlet Naya late on Monday reported an explosion in Kuwait overnight that could be heard in Basrah Province.
    Mike Sheen, CNBC, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The explosion was captured on video, which was shared on social media and verified by NBC News.
    Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • According to a report in German newspaper Bild, investigators believe only a technical malfunction may have prevented the device attached to the drone from detonating.
    Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Moments later the drone dives toward the minibus and explodes near its front, detonating close to where the man is standing.
    Elaine Mallon, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bursting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bursting. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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