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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bursts
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
Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025
One emerging approach gaining traction is called microlearning, a strategy that delivers academic content in short bursts rather than lengthy lessons.
—Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 10 Sep. 2025
Some gags land, others don’t, and the script’s sudden bursts of melancholy dependably catch you in the gut.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2025
For now, passengers will only experience a few short bursts at top speed, which is still far short of what is standard in Europe and Asia.
—Ben Jones, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
In REM sleep, bursts of both SST and GHRH combine to produce sharp pulses of GH, while in non-REM sleep, SST activity drops, allowing steadier hormone release.
—New Atlas, 8 Sep. 2025
Thunderstorms will produce bursts of heavy rainfall in Miami-Dade and Broward, according to the National Weather Service in Miami.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
The family’s ring doorbell camera captured a man in all black who appeared to stand in the middle of their street raising a gun and three bursts of gunfire from different locations.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
The bursts packed a punch, uprooting even mature trees in the Carmichael area, and disrupting power to thousands of Sacramento Municipal Utility District customers.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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 sound of wheels hitting concrete blends with bursts of laughter and cheers.
—Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025
One emerging approach gaining traction is called microlearning, a strategy that delivers academic content in short bursts rather than lengthy lessons.
—Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 10 Sep. 2025
Some gags land, others don’t, and the script’s sudden bursts of melancholy dependably catch you in the gut.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2025
For now, passengers will only experience a few short bursts at top speed, which is still far short of what is standard in Europe and Asia.
—Ben Jones, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
In REM sleep, bursts of both SST and GHRH combine to produce sharp pulses of GH, while in non-REM sleep, SST activity drops, allowing steadier hormone release.
—New Atlas, 8 Sep. 2025
Thunderstorms will produce bursts of heavy rainfall in Miami-Dade and Broward, according to the National Weather Service in Miami.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
The family’s ring doorbell camera captured a man in all black who appeared to stand in the middle of their street raising a gun and three bursts of gunfire from different locations.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
The bursts packed a punch, uprooting even mature trees in the Carmichael area, and disrupting power to thousands of Sacramento Municipal Utility District customers.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bursts
Verb
-
Not the kind that explodes into shouting matches, but the silent, slow-burning kind.—
Stephan Lendi,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
As Kevin, a truly reluctant hero who can’t escape his fundamental goodness, attempts to drive the kids and Mary across town, the Camp Fire explodes.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The shift change shatters my sleep like a robin’s egg crashing against pavement.—
Manuel Muñoz,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Most sitcoms that cast celebrities to play themselves go the Thompson route, crafting a character that completely shatters the person’s public image.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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On football weekends, the whole town buzzes with maroon pride, fans, and festive energy.—
Jill Robbins,
Southern Living,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Nyhavn’s vibrant waterfront dazzles with its iconic townhouses, while Vesterbro’s gritty-chic Meatpacking District buzzes with galleries and nightlife.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
Video footage from the area showed multiple large explosions in Gaza City on Tuesday as the IDF pressed its offensive.—
Kevin Shalvey,
ABC News,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Aside from heavy tanks and artillery firing salvos leading to big explosions and heavy smoke on the training area, infantry units also charged forward on motorcycles, quad bikes or on foot under the cover of drones.—
Frederik Pleitgen,
CNN Money,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In this demo expedition, his group deployed hyper-tech robotic explorers to map a lava tube on a Mars analog site, in the Spanish Canary Islands, which, like the Hawaiian archipelago, were produced via a series of volcanic eruptions.—
Kevin Holden Platt,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Around the time of this flip, solar activity gradually ramps up, causing more solar eruptions like solar flares and coronal mass ejections.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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
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In the United Kingdom, as fans wait for something new from the global pop star, one of her earlier career smashes returns to the top 40 and becomes a bestseller again.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bursts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bursts. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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