burst 1 of 2

verb

ˈbərst How to pronounce burst (audio)
Definition of burstnext
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

burst

2 of 2

noun

1
as in flurry
a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity a sudden burst of industriousness whenever the boss appeared

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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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3
as in eruption
the act or an instance of exploding one burst after another could be heard in the distance

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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
When a bank of televisions showed horses bursting through the starting gate, feet stomped on the club’s carpet. — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026 Advertisement Article continues below this ad After sitting a year ago behind two seniors who are now playing in college, Accetta has burst onto the Central Texas high school football scene in his first year as the starter. — Colby Gordon, Austin American Statesman, 17 Oct. 2026
Noun
As journals rose in popularity, so did the book dispensed in bursts. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026 And, like all the products from the beloved French pharmacy brand, the SPF incorporates a burst of thermal spring water to soothe and nourish the skin. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for burst
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burst
  1. explode
  2. shatter
  3. bulge
  4. flurry
  5. explosion
  6. eruption
  7. detonate
  8. smash
Verb
  • Dramatic dashcam footage shows the plane speeding straight down toward the street before exploding on impact, scattering debris all over the road and a nearby mobile home community.
    — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 1 Nov. 2026
  • The jet can be seen rapidly descending from the sky before crashing nose-first into the ground and immediately exploding into a massive fireball.
    — Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of explode
Verb
  • The roadway was left shattered and burning wreckage dotted the crater, video from CNN affiliate WPBF showed.
    — Holly Yan, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia closed on Saturday after more than three decades of successive missions that helped rebuild a country shattered by civil war.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of shatter
Verb
  • But on my face is my stupid sleep mask, with the bumps bulging out over the eyes.
    — Jenny Hughes, The Spruce, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Earlier in the week, the team said the 23-year-old NFL player had been dealing with a bulging disc in his back.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of bulge
Noun
  • Prop 1’s complexity has led to a flurry of competing TV ads interpreting it in opposite ways.
    — Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The executive order was quickly met with a flurry of lawsuits, which resulted in a preliminary injunction blocking the USPS from enforcing any new rules in response to Trump’s order.
    — Philip Wang, Time, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of flurry
Noun
  • Iranian state media reported explosions being heard on the islands of Qeshm and Hengam in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, and in the nearby mainland area of Bandar Abbas.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Nov. 2026
  • In August, 38 people were killed when a Russian drone strike on an ammunition depot near the capital triggered a large fire and multiple explosions that lasted hours in a residential area near Kyiv.
    — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of explosion
Noun
  • The consultants were meant to serve as independent experts to mediate any disagreements within the agency over what to do about the wastewater eruptions, according to current and former commission officials.
    — Nick Bowlin, ProPublica, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Douglas, who played 44 of the 65 offensive snaps, became the seventh Dolphins rookie in history to catch multiple touchdowns in a game; De’Von Achane was the last, in the 70-point eruption against Denver in 2023.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of eruption
Verb
  • The bomb detonated close to Reggane was four times more powerful than that used on Hiroshima.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2026
  • An operation in Kenscoff In the mists of the steep hills that ring southern Port-au-Prince, CNN saw one Task Force operation where helicopters manned by foreign contractors assaulted gang positions, and drones detonated amid the clatter of gunfire.
    — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of detonate
Verb
  • Protests last week devolved into mayhem, with people setting fires, storming public buildings, smashing shop windows, looting and clashing with police.
    — ELITSA GADEVA, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Rioters last weekend smashed their way into stores, targeting sneakers, athletic wear and sporting goods on streets that run off the city’s central Duomo square.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of smash

Phrases Containing burst

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burrs
burst
burst (forth)
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Cite this Entry

“Burst.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burst. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on burst

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about burst

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