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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of burst
Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2026
No, the club's horticulture staff does not pack them in ice to keep the blooms from bursting before the Masters.
—ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
Instead, Angine de Poitrine are more like Meshuggah or Dawn of Midi, establishing a meter and then creating rhythmic illusions using creative bursts of syncopation.
—Christopher R. Weingarten, Pitchfork, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for burst
Verb
Dynevor plays Lisa — a newly single expectant mother who’s about to burst when a Category 5 hurricane rocks her South Carolina town.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2026
No, the club's horticulture staff does not pack them in ice to keep the blooms from bursting before the Masters.
—ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
Noun
Atlanta responded with another burst fueled by Brooklyn turnovers.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
Instead, Angine de Poitrine are more like Meshuggah or Dawn of Midi, establishing a meter and then creating rhythmic illusions using creative bursts of syncopation.
—Christopher R. Weingarten, Pitchfork, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for burst
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burst
Verb
-
Old Herald clippings from 1986 reported about homeowners toilets and sinks smelling like gas, a 3-year-old getting rashes and fevers from drinking the well water and fear of driers exploding.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
-
More advanced packaging methods took off as chip complexity exploded in the last few years with the advent of AI.—
Katie Tarasov,
CNBC,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In this case, the arc of the season was primed for Batula to be the victim rising from the ashes of her divorce, only for her recent romantic indiscretions to shatter that fantasy.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
-
March 2026 was a historic month for temperatures in the United States, fueled by an extraordinary and prolonged heat wave that shattered temperature records across much of the West, according to a new report released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).—
Dan Peck,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But a fair number of Mudryk’s attempts end up bulging the roof of the net with power and precision, and very few are saved.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The Tar Heel pipeline isn’t exactly bulging with the kind of coach the UNC job could attract.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Public Service Commission has approved a flurry of rate hikes in recent years as private utilities grapple with maintaining profits while improving infrastructure in a mountainous, sparsely populated state.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The latest adaptation of the action video game series is uppercutting its way into theaters, kicking off the summer blockbuster season with a flurry of powerful punches.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
According to the documents, Chee paid his other employees in cash — including those who later died in the explosion.—
Joe Rubin,
Sacbee.com,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The warmth that is the CinemaScope explosion of every emotion all at once.—
Courtney Crowder,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The eruption of an Icelandic volcano kept some artists from getting to the festival, including The Cribs and Frightened Rabbit.—
Vanessa Franko,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Home to the volcanic eruptions that have been hitting headlines since 2023, the country’s geothermal power is on full display.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Mbwavi had his cellphone in his hand and was allegedly counting down, leading the guard to believe a bomb could be detonated.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2026
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The most devastating were the above-ground tests, 116 of which were detonated between 1949 and 1963.—
Magdalena Stawkowski,
The Conversation,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Lyrids are known for producing bright, fast-moving meteors that tend to lack persistent trails, but have the potential to spawn spectacular fireballs as larger chunks of Comet Thatcher smash into Earth's atmosphere.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
9 Apr. 2026
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In footage shared by the BBC on X, Medvedev, who suffered a 6-0 6-0 loss during the 49-minute match, was filmed smashing up his tennis racket six times and angrily tossing it across the court.—
Gina Kalsi,
PEOPLE,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Burst.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burst. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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