BURSTS Synonyms: 109 Similar and Opposite Words

bursts 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of burst

as in explodes

to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure the turnover's crust burst when the filling expanded

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in shatters

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

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as in buzzes

to be copiously supplied a young singer/dancer who seems to be bursting with energy and talent

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bursts

2 of 2

noun

plural of burst

as in flurries

a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity a sudden burst of industriousness whenever the boss appeared

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in explosions

a sudden intense expression of strong feeling a burst of anger that startled the other members on the panel

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as in eruptions

the act or an instance of exploding one burst after another could be heard in the distance

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

implosions

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 bursts

Verb

Things quickly take a terrifying turn during surgery when a scorpion tail suddenly bursts through Perry’s back, attacking one of the surgeons mid-operation. — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026 Haaland bursts our bubble almost immediately by scoring in the opening five minutes, and Burnley miss a few good first-half chances, with striker Zian Flemming particularly culpable. — Nnamdi Onyeagwara, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2026 The 60-year immigration bubble finally bursts. — FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026 Once a cushioned conduit to the other side, the casket now bursts with the wisdom of a life lived outside the box. — Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2025 Later, as the film plays, the crowd bursts intermittently into laughter, cracking up at the clown-car quality of everyone piling into the van for the first time. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2025 Sedona Sedona is another popular fall break destination for many reasons, least of all being Oak Creek Canyon, which bursts with color during the autumn months. — Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 19 Sep. 2025 The movie is a tour de force In IMAX, the format’s large screen and huge sound a perfect partner for the purple one’s charisma, which positively bursts off the screen. — Benny Har-Even, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025 Third Thursdays bring the festive Art Walk, when the district bursts with local art, live music, and technicolor vibes. — Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2025

Noun

Movement research has long shown that even brief bursts increase circulation and prompt the release of dopamine and serotonin, which is the neurochemistry behind why a five-minute walk or stretch break shifts mood. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026 Even short bursts increase circulation, signal safety to the nervous system and prompt the release of dopamine and serotonin. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026 Fresh, plump blueberries in the salad add little bursts of sweetness, and the earthiness of lightly toasted and sliced almonds give balance to the vinegar. — Candy Hom, AJC.com, 20 Sep. 2026 As the train emerges from the tunnel, pitch darkness alternates with sudden bursts of sunlight through openings in the bedrock. — Ben Corn, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Sep. 2026 The bursts of comedy don’t lighten the mood, but instead sharpen the emotion and clarify the intensity, the way a shrewd joke might at a funeral. — Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026 The interactive hibachi dining experience features chefs who entertain with sizzling grills, knife tricks and bursts of flame. — Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 16 Sep. 2026 That flexibility makes flow batteries particularly relevant to long-duration storage, where systems may need to deliver electricity for several hours rather than simply provide short bursts of backup power. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Sep. 2026 Could Civale maybe be used in shorter bursts, meaning he could be used more often? — Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bursts

Verb

Once the mook is within blasting range, Reacher explodes the tank with a bullet — making both the man and the floor as holey as Swiss cheese.

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
Control Resonant, the sequel, takes most of that game’s gorgeous visual language and explodes it all over an open-world New York City, to mesmerizing results.

— Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of explodes

Verb

After the cannon booms shatters these boxes, the ensemble tumbles together in a finale worthy of Tchaikovsky.

— Carlos Valladares, ARTnews.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Diesel shatters all-time records Diesel, a crucial fuel that powers trucks, trains, tractors and boats, has never been more expensive than today.

— Matt Egan, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of shatters

Verb

Elimar, the ground floor restaurant, buzzes at breakfast with a spectacular spread including giant wheels of parmesan and sides of prosciutto, fruit, egg and pancake stations, and a gluten-free section.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026
That means that when such a stellar body buzzes a black hole in a rpTDE, its outer layers are stripped, but its core resists the influence of the black hole.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of buzzes

Noun

Chelsea spent long stretches of the first half in survival mode as Arsenal roared onto the front foot after that shock opener, conjuring furious flurries of pressure from open play and set pieces.

— Liam Twomey, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Just as real snow flurries often do, this portrayal of that weather lifted my heart.

— Michael Joseph Gross, Travel + Leisure, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of flurries

Noun

But closer to the surface, the lower water pressure and the high temperatures of volcanic material can cause violent explosions.

— Yook Ji Hun, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2026
Shortly after the explosions at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, media archives show there was a mix of public reassurance, worry, and debate over international nuclear governance.

— J.D. Capelouto, semafor.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of explosions

Noun

In the deep ocean, high water pressure can suppress explosive volcanic activity, making eruptions less destructive.

— Yook Ji Hun, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2026
The Best Travel Photography of 2023 From the wildebeest migration in Kenya and volcanic eruptions in Iceland to shamanic rituals in Siberia.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of eruptions

Verb

Then Chernov detonates an atomic bomb over the Black Sea as a show of force.

— Jessica Kiang, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026
If the ammunition detonates after penetration, the explosion is directed away from the crew compartment, significantly improving the crew’s chances of survival.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 30 June 2026