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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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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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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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

Adding short bursts of intensity to your walks can improve your cardiovascular fitness without overhauling your routine. — Jenessa Connor, Health, 21 July 2026 Blue raspberry popping boba pearls add colorful bursts of sweet-tart flavor. — Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 21 July 2026 Argentina have played in bursts, frequently drawing on their never-say-die spirit as well as Messi’s brilliance. — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 19 July 2026 Caviar is one of life’s great pleasures, delicate orbs full of rich bursts of salty, umami deliciousness. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026 Balinese, from the smaller Hindu isle, is often rawer, and features bright, exciting bursts or metallic clashes. — Steve Hochman, SPIN, 15 July 2026 Meanwhile, Nielsen's statements were met with bursts of applause. — Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 15 July 2026 Under rural Spanish skies, particularly in dark-sky regions away from towns and cities, observers could see 30 to 50 meteors per hour, with occasional bursts producing even more. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 14 July 2026 When the aorta bursts, blood rushes through the tear, which often leads to sudden death. — Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 13 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bursts

Verb

The risk still explodes when proper people and processes aren't in place to properly triage and patch real vulnerabilities that can affect your organization.

— RJ Friedman, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Instead, as Laura bugs her sister long enough about just forgiving her already, Mary explodes.

— Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 11 July 2026

Definition of explodes

Verb

As Hogi pokes a hole in this plot and shatters the industrial love complex we’ve been sold song after song, movie after movie, the workplace version of this unhealthy relationship presents a familiar parallel.

— Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
In Book 5, Poseidon sends a storm that shatters the boat that Odysseus was sailing in, alone.

— Chris Moody, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026

Definition of shatters

Verb

Your social world buzzes with activity as Mercury and Venus harmonize in the skies.

— USA TODAY, USA Today, 24 July 2026
Overlapping time zones, a phone that buzzes through dinner, investors who expect answers before the market opens tomorrow, and social-media pressure all threaten reputations.

— Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Definition of buzzes

Noun

The past 14 years have included some flurries of diplomatic contact between Iran and the West.

— Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
There is even a remote possibility for a few flurries in the highest peaks of the Sierra on Saturday and Sunday nights with temps briefly below freezing.

— Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 26 June 2026

Definition of flurries

Noun

Air defenses were activated in the Iranian capital, Tehran, and explosions were reported in several Iranian cities, according to state media.

— Arpita Dasika, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
Down the hall, just a few seconds later, a different woman gave birth to a little girl named Yasmina, whose cries could hardly be heard over the sound of the explosions around her.

— David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 22 July 2026

Definition of explosions

Noun

However, this potential sky show isn’t a result of a coronal mass ejection (CME), the intense solar eruptions responsible for some of the most widespread aurora events in recent years.

— Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026
Smaller planets tend to lose gas faster than volcanic eruptions can replace it.

— Kiona N. Smith, Space.com, 21 July 2026

Definition of eruptions

Verb

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
After the pass comes to Bridges, who detonates passersby at the basket regularly, White goes straight up, though with a little more oomph than usual.

— Fred Katz, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026

Definition of detonates

Verb

The skater then grabs his board and smashes his opponent in the head with it.

— Sean Joseph OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 July 2026
Following the Oklahoma style, the team smashes Vidalia onions directly into the beef, making the patties superthin, then tops them with brown mustard, American cheese and pickles.

— Sam Flemming, AJC.com, 1 July 2026