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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in eruption
the act or an instance of exploding
one burst after another could be heard in the distance
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 burst
Elias Burke, New York Times, 2 May 2025
There are sometimes only images: foggy white drizzle, melted rainbows in a gasoline puddle, pink foam insulation bursting between slats of splintered wood.
—Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 3 May 2025
Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 May 2025
The dining room ceiling, adorned with an unexpected burst of orange floral wallpaper, breathes new life into the 100-year-old house.
—Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for burst
Verb
After Paris Saint-Germain burst Arsenal’s post-Real Madrid bubble in the Champions League on Tuesday, Thursday was England’s day in Europe.
—Elias Burke, New York Times, 2 May 2025
There are sometimes only images: foggy white drizzle, melted rainbows in a gasoline puddle, pink foam insulation bursting between slats of splintered wood.
—Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 3 May 2025
Noun
Trump's tariff escalation, announced April 2, set off concern among economists and consumers about a possible burst of inflation, since importers typically pass along a share of such taxes in the form of price hikes.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 May 2025
The dining room ceiling, adorned with an unexpected burst of orange floral wallpaper, breathes new life into the 100-year-old house.
—Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for burst
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burst
Verb
-
Russia on Sunday fired a total of 273 exploding drones and decoys targeting Ukraine's Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions, according to Ukraine’s air force.—
Greg Norman,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2025
-
American Reproductive Centers said Saturday in a post on Facebook that a vehicle had exploded in the parking lot near its Palm Springs facility earlier in the day.—
Joe Hernandez,
NPR,
18 May 2025
Verb
-
But the illusion of paradise is shattered when another guest is found dead and Gabriel becomes the prime suspect.—
Laura Thompson,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
-
The event shattered the records for participation in a online chess game, passing the previous record of 70,000 set for the ‘Vishy vs. The World’ last year.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
21 May 2025
Verb
-
No deals have been reached with America’s largest trading partners, including Canada, Mexico and China, which is the single biggest contributor to the bulging U.S. trade deficit that Trump calls a rip-off for the American people.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
8 May 2025
-
Movies don't get more manly than Predator, which is positively brimming with bulging muscles, oneupmanship, relentless s— talk, chainguns, and some of Schwarzenegger's silliest one-liners since Commando.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The news spread quickly, and the prospect of IDR payments doubling or tripling for some married borrowers led to a flurry of questions, distress on social media, and even talk of extreme measures.—
Shahar Ziv,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
-
In a flurry of diplomatic developments over the weekend, Russia shunned the ceasefire proposal tabled by the U.S. and European leaders, but offered direct talks with Ukraine on Thursday.—
Illia Novikov,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2025
Noun
-
Fire investigators determined the fire and explosion were intentionally set.—
Jeff A. Chamer,
Charlotte Observer,
21 May 2025
-
An explosion of heated coverage followed the initial report, much of it seemingly reliant on police leaks or pure speculation for sourcing.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
21 May 2025
Noun
-
The eruption can also form new thermal vents and offer a place for these organisms to repopulate.—
Monica Cull,
Discover Magazine,
16 May 2025
-
Flames coach Kelly Nangle did not seem surprised by O’Brien’s eruption.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
10 May 2025
Verb
-
On Saturday morning, a bomb was detonated at American Reproductive Centers in Palm Springs, destroying much of the building, injuring four people and killing the bomber.—
Paige St. John,
Los Angeles Times,
20 May 2025
-
Like many Americans, Dr. Garwin grew concerned when Moscow that summer detonated its first atom bomb.—
William J. Broad,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
Verb
-
The crash came a little over a year after the Dali, a 984-foot-long cargo ship, lost power while departing Baltimore’s harbor and smashed into the Key Bridge, killing six people and destroying critical infrastructure.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
19 May 2025
-
Devers stepped to the plate with a tie score and smashed a 2-1 breaking ball to deep right-center over the bullpen wall, propelling the Red Sox to a 7-6 victory over the Atlanta Braves.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burst.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burst. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share