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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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of burst
Jeaneen Russell, People.com, 2 June 2025
Profound shock The worst scenario would be that a wave of debris bursts the nearby Ferden Dam, Valais canton official Ganzer said.
—Dave Graham, Christian Science Monitor, 29 May 2025
Lisa Desantis, Glamour, 2 June 2025
Named for the distinctive black markings on the tips of their dorsal, pelvic, and tail fins, blacktip sharks primarily eat small fish, squid, and crustaceans, using quick bursts of speed to chase down prey.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for burst
Verb
With the start of summer concert season, these earplugs are also a great hack for enjoying your favorite artist while not bursting your eardrums or becoming overstimulated.
—Jeaneen Russell, People.com, 2 June 2025
Profound shock The worst scenario would be that a wave of debris bursts the nearby Ferden Dam, Valais canton official Ganzer said.
—Dave Graham, Christian Science Monitor, 29 May 2025
Noun
Then hold the can 8 to 10 inches away before spraying in short bursts.
—Lisa Desantis, Glamour, 2 June 2025
Named for the distinctive black markings on the tips of their dorsal, pelvic, and tail fins, blacktip sharks primarily eat small fish, squid, and crustaceans, using quick bursts of speed to chase down prey.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for burst
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burst
Verb
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Things quickly turned ugly as Martha’s jealousy of Ida exploded.—
Mara Bovsun,
New York Daily News,
31 May 2025
-
Sudan plunged into civil war on April 15, 2023, when simmering tensions between the military and the RSF exploded into open warfare in the capital Khartoum and other parts of the country.—
Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports,
Arkansas Online,
31 May 2025
Verb
-
Whatever credibility the report might have had as a product of a federal agency was shattered by its obvious errors, misrepresentations and outright fabrications of source materials, some of it plainly the product of the authors’ reliance on AI bots.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2025
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In 1985, Michael Jordan shattered a backboard during a dunk in a summer exhibition game against the Italian team Stefanel Trieste.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
2 June 2025
Verb
-
Photos posted online showed the snake arrived at a Virginia animal hospital with a bulging body.—
Simone Jasper,
Miami Herald,
6 June 2025
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This week, they’re dominated by the moon, which enters its bulging gibbous phase in advance of next week’s full strawberry moon.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
Noun
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Beyond the playoffs, NBA Draft, and flurry of early-summer free agency moves, the large majority of the NBA calendar plays out on regional sports networks.—
John Cassillo,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
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Posey sent a message, and that message was received. Led by Johnson, Ramos and plenty of others, the Giants responded to this morning’s flurry of roster moves by erasing a five-run deficit against the San Diego Padres to beat their divisional rival, 6-5.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
5 June 2025
Noun
-
Salt Lake has had this huge explosion over the past few years.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
3 June 2025
-
So these quests march on even as the crack of explosions grows louder.—
Carole V. Bell,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2025
Noun
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During Mount Etna’s recent eruption, however, the flow was contained within the region’s Lion Valley, per the AP.—
Margherita Bassi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
4 June 2025
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More recently, Mount Etna has been active in the past few months, with this eruption being the 14th episode since March 2025 after a 19-day lull.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
4 June 2025
Verb
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At the same moment, Paul presses the button on a remote and detonates a bomb in O’Hara’s office, killing his men there.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
1 June 2025
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An attacker opened fire on the Israeli Consulate in Munich in September, and two months later grenades were detonated near the Israeli Embassy in Copenhagen.—
Michael D. Shear,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Verb
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That served as a prelude to Tim Anderson smashing his own two-run shot off Zack Britton in the bottom of the inning to send the White Sox home winners.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
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He’s often found smashing things in the name of justice but can still be angered easily if things don’t go his way.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burst.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burst. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.
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