1
as in explodes
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 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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in flurries
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 explosions
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 eruptions
the act or an instance of exploding
one burst after another could be heard in the distance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bursts
Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 19 Sep. 2025
As Alien fans know, the facehugger will impregnate its host with a Xenomorph embryo, which eventually bursts from the host's chest.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 10 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
The same striped sole is used for the second variant, which bursts forth with more color via red suede and blue overlays.
—Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025
With surreal flourishes and bursts of absurdity, filmmaker Milagros Mumenthaler casts a beguiling, dreamlike spell that delicately examines motherhood, class and identity.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2025
Solar storms—giant bursts of energy from the Sun that disturb the Earth’s magnetic field—may play a role in triggering heart attacks, particularly in women, a new study has found.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Quick bursts of stronger winds and higher wave heights may also occur this afternoon as showers and thunderstorms develop.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Is the attraction the fact that it's forbidden and only exists in these short bursts?
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 26 Sep. 2025
October ushers in vibrant, changing fall colors with bursts of orange, red and yellow punctuating the dense forest.
—Nora Heston Tarte, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
Add life with flowers and greenery From bright marigolds to hardy mums, autumn flowers thrive in cooler weather and add bursts of color to your porch.
—Angie Hicks, Boston Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
His new cutter, which replaced his slider, looks effective enough as a third pitch in short bursts.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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
As Alien fans know, the facehugger will impregnate its host with a Xenomorph embryo, which eventually bursts from the host's chest.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 10 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
The same striped sole is used for the second variant, which bursts forth with more color via red suede and blue overlays.
—Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Noun
The new discovery completely alters our understanding of gamma ray bursts, which were once thought to be caused only by black holes.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025
With surreal flourishes and bursts of absurdity, filmmaker Milagros Mumenthaler casts a beguiling, dreamlike spell that delicately examines motherhood, class and identity.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2025
Solar storms—giant bursts of energy from the Sun that disturb the Earth’s magnetic field—may play a role in triggering heart attacks, particularly in women, a new study has found.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Quick bursts of stronger winds and higher wave heights may also occur this afternoon as showers and thunderstorms develop.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Is the attraction the fact that it's forbidden and only exists in these short bursts?
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 26 Sep. 2025
October ushers in vibrant, changing fall colors with bursts of orange, red and yellow punctuating the dense forest.
—Nora Heston Tarte, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
Add life with flowers and greenery From bright marigolds to hardy mums, autumn flowers thrive in cooler weather and add bursts of color to your porch.
—Angie Hicks, Boston Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
His new cutter, which replaced his slider, looks effective enough as a third pitch in short bursts.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bursts
Verb
-
Based on the book by Slow Horses scribe Mick Herron, in Down Cemetery Road, when a house explodes in a quiet Oxford suburb and a girl disappears in the aftermath, neighbor Sarah Trafford (Wilson) becomes obsessed with finding her and enlists the help of private investigator Zoë Boehm (Thompson).—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
29 Sep. 2025
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Eventually, that moment comes when the artist explodes.—
Christopher Claxton,
Billboard,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Continue reading … HEAT HISTORY – Padres flamethrower shatters MLB record with jaw-dropping pitch in playoff battle.—
,
FOXNews.com,
2 Oct. 2025
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Gunfire shatters windows at The Grand The fatal shooting in August was the latest incident amid ongoing crime problems there, the lawsuit says.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Come fall, the Mediterranean still buzzes with open-air cafés and seaside markets, perfect for lingering over fresh seafood with local wine.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
26 Sep. 2025
-
The room buzzes with more than just heat-seeking curiosity—there’s a sense of excitement for the place on its own terms.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
21 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Ali was scoring plenty with jabs and flurries, but his attempts to land big punches mostly fell flat.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Thin air and unpredictable wind flurries near Everest’s highest elevations prevent the drones from operating at some of the final camps leading to the summit.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Kyiv awoke to loud explosions, drones flying overhead and air defenses booming.—
Pavel Polityuk,
USA Today,
28 Sep. 2025
-
This finding offers new insights into the life cycles of stars and the science of stellar explosions, challenging previous assumptions about nova recurrence rates and shell formation.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This recurrent nova, known for its rapid eruptions approximately every 38 years, was last observed in 2009.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Sep. 2025
-
The platform hosts four instruments, one of which is a coronagraph to detect the massive eruptions from the Sun that spark geomagnetic storms.—
Kyle Orland,
ArsTechnica,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Brother Dusk detonates explosives that shatter the cryonic chamber of Cleon clones, bodies raining down in blood and glass, before plucking a single embryo from the wreckage to bait Demerzel’s deepest programming.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
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Determined to finish the job, Dante detonates explosives on the dam itself.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The ball smashes into the floodlights, and Hobbs sets off on his victory trot, in slow motion, with sparks cascading behind him like fireworks.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The trend isn’t one-sided either, as clips have surfaced of brides being the ones to start the frosting fight, like in this TikTok video where a bride smashes a piece of cake on her groom’s face.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bursts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bursts. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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