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
Relevance
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
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 bursting
Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 28 Oct. 2025
After two hours of high-speed, eardrum-bursting laps around the winding track, Verstappen proved victorious, with McLaren’s Lando Norris and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finishing in second and third, respectively.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 20 Oct. 2025
The shelter tab represents the second full fiscal year that Massachusetts taxpayers have shelled out larger-than-normal sums to house homeless families after a surge of migrant arrivals pushed the emergency assistance shelter system to a bursting point.
—Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
Traders, fearful of missing out on the rally, are piling into equities in a way reminiscent of the 1990s, when a feeding frenzy on early internet companies inflated the market right before the bursting of the dot-com bubble.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
That is to say, Stokoe is not afraid of giving you a good chest-bursting.
—Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
Warmed by the fires of partisanship or consumed by the bursting of flames?
—Robert A. Strong, The Conversation, 8 Sep. 2025
Their bursting and fierce love for each other and for my brother and me?
—Amanda Uhle
august 27, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2025
And while a bubble implies an eventual bursting, and all the damage that results, the underlying phenomenon causing a bubble often has real value.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2025
Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2025
While images of retinas bursting with color and a dove flapping its wings on an outstretched human hand looped behind them, the two allowed the crowd to grow denser while bobbing along to their rhythms.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2025
Combine these Southern vegetables all together in this flavor-bursting casserole.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2025
City soon claimed the blueprint as their own, bursting through on goal on four occasions after sweeping moves.
—Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Tulips in pots can be spaced more closely together than in outdoor beds to provide a container bursting with color.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2025
There were flower shops spilling roses onto the sidewalk and bakery windows bursting with éclairs.
—Danielle Postel-Vinay, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Worries have been climbing that AI may be in the midst of a bubble, similar to the dot-com bonanza that ended up bursting in 2000.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
This is unlike the beautiful sadness in Anderson’s films, which is entirely full (often to bursting) with humans and their shattered interiors.
—Literary Hub, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
To prevent freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes, they should be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly.
—Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 28 Oct. 2025
After two hours of high-speed, eardrum-bursting laps around the winding track, Verstappen proved victorious, with McLaren’s Lando Norris and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finishing in second and third, respectively.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 20 Oct. 2025
The shelter tab represents the second full fiscal year that Massachusetts taxpayers have shelled out larger-than-normal sums to house homeless families after a surge of migrant arrivals pushed the emergency assistance shelter system to a bursting point.
—Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
Traders, fearful of missing out on the rally, are piling into equities in a way reminiscent of the 1990s, when a feeding frenzy on early internet companies inflated the market right before the bursting of the dot-com bubble.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
That is to say, Stokoe is not afraid of giving you a good chest-bursting.
—Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
Warmed by the fires of partisanship or consumed by the bursting of flames?
—Robert A. Strong, The Conversation, 8 Sep. 2025
Their bursting and fierce love for each other and for my brother and me?
—Amanda Uhle
august 27, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2025
And while a bubble implies an eventual bursting, and all the damage that results, the underlying phenomenon causing a bubble often has real value.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
Flowers bloom all over the city, from fragrant jasmine to hot pink petals bursting from Judas trees.
—Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2025
While images of retinas bursting with color and a dove flapping its wings on an outstretched human hand looped behind them, the two allowed the crowd to grow denser while bobbing along to their rhythms.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2025
Combine these Southern vegetables all together in this flavor-bursting casserole.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2025
City soon claimed the blueprint as their own, bursting through on goal on four occasions after sweeping moves.
—Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Tulips in pots can be spaced more closely together than in outdoor beds to provide a container bursting with color.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2025
There were flower shops spilling roses onto the sidewalk and bakery windows bursting with éclairs.
—Danielle Postel-Vinay, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Worries have been climbing that AI may be in the midst of a bubble, similar to the dot-com bonanza that ended up bursting in 2000.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
This is unlike the beautiful sadness in Anderson’s films, which is entirely full (often to bursting) with humans and their shattered interiors.
—Literary Hub, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bursting
Adjective
-
Streamline applications with pre-filled forms, especially to support internal mobility where workloads are high or digital access is limited.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Whereas Balle’s first two books are inward and meditative, her third witnesses an eruption of politics.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
-
In 2022, debris from an underwater volcanic eruption severed the island's only subsea communication cable, cutting the island off from the rest of the world.—
Magdalena Petrova,
CNBC,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Down 13 in the fourth quarter of Game 3, Wade fueled an epic comeback win, exploding for 42 points and 13 rebounds, putting the team on his back.—
The Athletic NBA Staff,
New York Times,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Its schools are ranked among the best in Texas, and the job market is exploding, with jobs in information technology, finance, and healthcare on the rise.—
Amanda Ogle,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
When a world-shattering event turns most of the global population into a friendly hive mind, Carol sets out to protect her individuality.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
10 Nov. 2025
-
But this average-looking citizen could become almost anything, throwing himself into roles with shattering power.—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Shaw-naé explains how then-mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is dying to speak with her, how the Venmo CEO invited her to some fancy app meeting, all while Al Roker is buzzing on her phone to give an update on Friday’s upcoming dinner service.—
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady,
Billboard,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Best Time to Visit The best times to visit São Paulo are between September and November, when the city is buzzing with events—don’t miss the São Paulo Biennial and the Formula 1 São Paulo Grand Prix.—
Jade Moyano,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
And the original stage musical, which first hit Broadway 22 years ago, is still playing to packed houses on the Great White Way.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Serielizados also served on Friday a high-caliber masterclass by Alan Ball, received by yelps of reverent enthusiasm from a fandom packed audience.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Local media also reported that several explosions were heard before the fire began.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Jonathan Taylor’s offensive explosion helped push the Indianapolis Colts past the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday in the first NFL regular-season game in Berlin, 31-25, in overtime.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Two Massachusetts men arrested in connection with an explosion Saturday at Harvard University are accused of detonating a firework inside a laboratory locker in a medical building, federal authorities said Tuesday.—
Minyvonne Burke,
NBC news,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Poseidon had been described as a doomsday weapon that is designed to create a massive radioactive tsunami by detonating near coastal targets.—
Abhishek Bhardwaj,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bursting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bursting. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share