as in filled
containing or seeming to contain the greatest quantity or number possible
the store was bursting with bargain hunters on the day of the big sale
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in exploding
to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure
the turnover's crust burst when the filling expanded
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shattering
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of bursting
Ganesh Sitaraman, Time, 26 Mar. 2026
The end of Sora is most certainly not the first domino or the bursting of the AI bubble.
—Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Sometimes starting out feeling more like winter with snow and cold, and other year's bursting into bloom.
—Bailey Allen, The Providence Journal, 21 Mar. 2026
With an elegant silhouette bursting with intricate featherwork, the gown also seemed to reference the iridescent, dark plumage of the label’s Fall-Winter 2012 show.
—Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026
This 2024 debut novel by Kaveh Akbar, the poetry editor at The Nation, is an unflinching tour-de-force bursting with wit and insight into the complications of diaspora, the nature of identity in a post-War on Terror world and the inter-generational impact of the 1979 Revolution on Iranians.
—Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 3 Mar. 2026
This includes both 2000 and 2007, when bubbles bursting coincided with painful recessions.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 Feb. 2026
This helps water flow as the ice melts and relieves pressure, reducing the risk of the pipe bursting.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 27 Jan. 2026
While plumbers said winter is known for pipes bursting, once the weather starts thawing out in the spring, their call volume picks up.
—Marissa Sulek, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
Kalpana Fitzpatrick, TheWeek, 15 Apr. 2026
My heart is constantly bursting open, while also breaking into a million pieces.
—Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 11 Apr. 2026
With pops of lemon and cinnamon in the filling, this pie is literally bursting with flavor to enjoy this summer.
—Abby Fribush, Southern Living, 10 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
In a quintet of fine performances, his stands out in this moment so removed from when Becky Shaw debuted (2008 was not bursting at the seams with essays on our crisis of masculinity).
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2026
In the dotcom era, the economists explained, the economy reflected the latter scenario, where gains failed to show, bursting the bubble.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2026
Lendeborg today feels like an overnight sensation, bursting on the scene in his maize-and-blue out of nowhere.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
Like the first incident, the Coco robot reportedly swerved into the bus shelter while making a delivery and only stopped after bursting through it.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
Another possibility is a version of the 2008 crash, in which the bursting bubble takes down the global economy.
—Ganesh Sitaraman, Time, 26 Mar. 2026
The end of Sora is most certainly not the first domino or the bursting of the AI bubble.
—Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Sometimes starting out feeling more like winter with snow and cold, and other year's bursting into bloom.
—Bailey Allen, The Providence Journal, 21 Mar. 2026
With an elegant silhouette bursting with intricate featherwork, the gown also seemed to reference the iridescent, dark plumage of the label’s Fall-Winter 2012 show.
—Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026
This 2024 debut novel by Kaveh Akbar, the poetry editor at The Nation, is an unflinching tour-de-force bursting with wit and insight into the complications of diaspora, the nature of identity in a post-War on Terror world and the inter-generational impact of the 1979 Revolution on Iranians.
—Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 3 Mar. 2026
This includes both 2000 and 2007, when bubbles bursting coincided with painful recessions.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 Feb. 2026
This helps water flow as the ice melts and relieves pressure, reducing the risk of the pipe bursting.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 27 Jan. 2026
While plumbers said winter is known for pipes bursting, once the weather starts thawing out in the spring, their call volume picks up.
—Marissa Sulek, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
Verb
This vibrant city is a foodie’s sanctuary, a shopper’s delight, and a cultural hub bursting with museums, galleries and cafes.
—Kalpana Fitzpatrick, TheWeek, 15 Apr. 2026
My heart is constantly bursting open, while also breaking into a million pieces.
—Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 11 Apr. 2026
With pops of lemon and cinnamon in the filling, this pie is literally bursting with flavor to enjoy this summer.
—Abby Fribush, Southern Living, 10 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
In a quintet of fine performances, his stands out in this moment so removed from when Becky Shaw debuted (2008 was not bursting at the seams with essays on our crisis of masculinity).
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2026
In the dotcom era, the economists explained, the economy reflected the latter scenario, where gains failed to show, bursting the bubble.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2026
Lendeborg today feels like an overnight sensation, bursting on the scene in his maize-and-blue out of nowhere.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
Like the first incident, the Coco robot reportedly swerved into the bus shelter while making a delivery and only stopped after bursting through it.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bursting
Adjective
-
The new system allows citations to be transmitted electronically and enter the court records system pre-filled.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
This comforter is pre-filled and designed to be two inches wider than standard sizes for an extra-plush feel and complete bed coverage.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
That person belongs to a different time, to a different town and to people who cannot be expected to remain the same, any more than the slopes of a volcano can be expected to still be molten rock an eon after the last eruption.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Major eruptions of pushback against Meta include the Cambridge Analytica scandal in 2018, when the unauthorized harvesting of personal data from up to 87 million Facebook users was used for political advertising, adding to criticisms that the site pushes divisive and extreme political content.—
Ryan Cormier,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That is, until the union starts not-so-quietly exploding during a vicious screaming match at their home following a fundraising event.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
17 Apr. 2026
-
When spring is in the air, there’s nothing quite like seeing a garden exploding in seasonal color.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The following week at the San Jose Invitational, Wilkins broke his own world record on three consecutive throws, shattering the 70-meter and 230-feet barriers along the way.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The actress said that one night, her daughter, Luca, 28, witnessed her shattering framed photos of herself and Abrams and then using the glass shards to self-harm.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The brunch scene is buzzing, with diners tucking into dishes of lamb and crispy rice bowls with poached egg and labneh, or the Muhammara shakshouka.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Guests can lounge at the always-buzzing Pool Club, take a dip in one of two magnesium plunge pools, and rejuvenate in the bio-wellness spa.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Filipino girl group, comprising Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha, Jhoanna, and Sheena, became the first band from the Philippines to perform at the music festival — and the Pinoy pride shone back at them, with a packed crowd whose exuberance rivaled the energy exuding from BINI onstage.—
Althea Legaspi,
Rolling Stone,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Summers are hot, humid and packed.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The arraignment continues for six out of the eight people arrested in connection with the Esparto explosion that killed seven men.—
Kayla Moeller,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The video allowed researchers to calculate the trajectory of the missile flying uncharacteristically low and match it with other reports of explosions, Lair said.—
Jane Lytvynenko,
NBC news,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And some advanced mines have counters that will let a certain number of ships pass before detonating.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Named after the infamous Japanese suicide pilots of World War II, these kinds of drones can actively hunt for targets, track them, and then ram into them, detonating their explosive payloads.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bursting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bursting. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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