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
as in to erupt
to develop suddenly and violently
hives burst forth on the child's arms and face whenever she goes near that plant
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
So these quests march on even as the crack of explosions grows louder.—
Carole V. Bell,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2025
-
Salt Lake has had this huge explosion over the past few years.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
3 June 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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
Noun
-
The outburst comes just days after Trump and Musk appeared together for a chummy White House news conference billed as a friendly sendoff for the latter.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
3 June 2025
-
That 18-point outburst remains Johannès’ lone double-digit scoring night of the season in seven tries.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
2 June 2025
Noun
-
Bursts of orange flash under a half dozen columns of black smoke billowing just beyond a freeway where traffic continues as usual.—
Karl Vick,
Time,
13 June 2025
-
The protests against the Trump administration’s immigration raids in Los Angeles have featured flashes of violence, with protesters setting driverless cars on fire and officers responding to crowds with tear gas and rubber bullets.—
Story Hinckley,
Christian Science Monitor,
12 June 2025
Noun
-
The recent spurt of generative AI is exacerbating the issue as adversaries are leveraging it to create more authentic phishing emails and deepfakes, tricking employees into exposing confidential information.—
Stu Sjouwerman,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
The legislation comes amid the latest spurt of runaway production as other states ramp up their film and TV tax incentives programs in an effort to lure production away from California.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
3 June 2025
Noun
-
By Thursday evening, the blaze has been fully contained by a crew of six firefighters.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
13 June 2025
-
The blaze, dubbed the Ranch Fire, was first reported about 1:35 p.m. on June 10 just south of Apple Valley, about 90 miles outside of Los Angeles, according to Apple Valley Fire Department records.—
Brian Day,
USA Today,
12 June 2025
Noun
-
Wind gusts of up to 70 mph and quarter-sized hail (1 inch) are expected.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 June 2025
-
Wind gusts of up to 55 mph and pea-sized hail (0.25 inches) are anticipated.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
9 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burst.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burst. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share