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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in flurry
a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity
a sudden burst of industriousness whenever the boss appeared
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in explosion
a sudden intense expression of strong feeling
a burst of anger that startled the other members on the panel
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of burst
Jason Fanelli, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
Marie ended his rein by literally expanding his blood vessels to burst his head clean off the rest of his body.
—Demetrius Patterson, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
Adam Mills, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Even the vets warned that such bursts of energy sometimes signal a final surge before decline, but Luna proved them wrong.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burst
Verb
Many role-playing games burst onto the scene promising that your choices will matter, only for that claim to fall flat in practice.
—Jason Fanelli, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
Marie ended his rein by literally expanding his blood vessels to burst his head clean off the rest of his body.
—Demetrius Patterson, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
Perfect for taco lovers and snack enthusiasts alike, these shells deliver a burst of real cheese flavor with every bite, whether enjoyed on their own or filled with your favorite toppings.
—Adam Mills, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Even the vets warned that such bursts of energy sometimes signal a final surge before decline, but Luna proved them wrong.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burst
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burst
Verb
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The Blue Jays didn’t need Ohtani on Friday, when their offense exploded for nine runs in the sixth inning.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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During the high-speed chase, the two men were forced off the road, where their car exploded in a fiery crash, killing them both, the BBC reports.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Viewers are dropped into the aftermath of an unnamed personal conflict and must work out over the course of the runtime the stakes of the situation, a highwire act handled deftly by the actors whose tender performances provide the emotional impact of the film’s shattering final sequence.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
24 Oct. 2025
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The case of Mamulya, a donkey whose hoof was shattered, apparently in a mine explosion, becomes central to the story, emblematic of the assistance the sanctuary receives from within and beyond Ukraine’s borders in order to provide state-of-the-art medical treatments.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Around the same time, Ortega-Jiménez discovered that spiderwebs deform when positively charged insects fly by, bulging out to ensnare them.—
Cody Cottier,
Scientific American,
23 Oct. 2025
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Dragged down by steep declines at its star brand Gucci and a bulging debt load, Kering has also been closing stores, selling real estate and reducing headcount after a dismal start to the year that saw group net profit plummet 46 percent in the first half.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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That Knicks flurry kicked off a truly dreadful second quarter for the Celtics, who also surrendered runs of 12-0 and 17-0 while being outplayed in nearly every facet.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
25 Oct. 2025
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As rain pattered against windows, and trees lining the streets swayed, flurries of urgent texts began ricocheting from one end of the neighborhood to the other, and panic set in as some residents put on their shoes and hurried out the door.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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For the rest of the nineteenth century and into the twentieth century, magnetic storms, triggered by colossal solar explosions, repeatedly disrupted those networks.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
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Growing attraction Though specialized e-bike shops have been in operation for more than a decade, their recent explosion in business can be attributed to changes in offerings and price.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Sulfuric aerosols trapped in ice cores suggest that a truly massive volcanic eruption took place in 1809, followed by a succession of smaller eruptions that culminated in the staggering explosion of Mount Tambora in 1815.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
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While tectonic activity is the leading cause, earthquakes can also result from volcanic eruptions, underground explosions, and human activities like mining or large-scale construction.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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An artillery shell fired as part of the Marine Corps’ 250-year anniversary celebrations prematurely detonated over Interstate 5 in California Saturday, striking a patrol vehicle with shrapnel, according to the California Highway Patrol.—
Susannah Cullinane,
CNN Money,
20 Oct. 2025
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Two months later, on February 26, 1993, al-Qaeda detonated a truck bomb beneath the World Trade Center, killing six people and injuring more than a thousand.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The solar wind smashes into the leading edge of Earth’s magnetosphere with supersonic speed, creating a shockwave that can come closer than one hundred thousand kilometers to the planet’s illuminated side.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
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From there, two of the thieves slinked up the ladder to smash a window that leads to the Galerie d’Apollon on the museum’s second floor.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burst.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burst. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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