Synonyms of bursts

bursts 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of burst

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

• explodes
• detonates
• pops
• blows
• goes off
• blows up
• crumps
• fragments
• smashes
• shatters
• fires
• mushrooms
• discharges
• splinters
• shoots
• balloons
• burgeons

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• collapses
• implodes
• fizzles

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

• shatters
• smashes
• demolishes
• blows
• explodes
• pops
• blasts
• destroys
• detonates
• blows up
• fragments
• annihilates
• wrecks
• dynamites
• ruins
• decimates
• discharges
• splinters

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• collapses
• implodes

3

as in buzzes

to be copiously supplied

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• buzzes
• bulges
• hums
• brims
• crawls
• overflows
• teems
• abounds
• swarms
• bustles
• bristles
• pullulates

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• needs
• wants
• lacks

bursts

2 of 2

noun

plural of burst

1

as in flurries

a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity

a sudden burst of industriousness whenever the boss appeared

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flurries
• outbursts
• spurts
• surges
• flutters
• outbreaks
• flashes
• flares
• flickers
• increases
• eruptions
• explosions
• flare-ups
• boosts
• rushes
• floods
• renewals
• recurrences
• upturns
• sprees
• paroxysms
• upswings
• volleys
• pickups
• recrudescences
• jags
• binges
• epidemics
• deluges
• commotions
• spates
• furors
• uproars

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• slumps
• doldrums
• calms

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

• explosions
• outbursts
• flashes
• eruptions
• gusts
• blazes
• flushes
• flares
• spasms
• gales
• storms
• paroxysms
• gushes
• fits
• frenzies
• rages
• agonies
• ebullitions
• flare-ups
• tantrums
• raptures
• transports
• ecstasies
• blowups
• deliriums
• grouches
• firestorms
• furors

3

as in eruptions

the act or an instance of exploding

one burst after another could be heard in the distance

Synonyms & Similar Words

• eruptions
• explosions
• blasts
• detonations
• outbursts
• firings
• blowups
• shootings
• booms
• discharges
• blowouts
• pops
• bangs
• airbursts
• flare-ups
• groundbursts

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• implosions

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bursts

Verb

In these moments, the actor bursts through his roles as the Spider does through Reilly, unleashing the Grand Guignol excess that is Nicolas Cage. — Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

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

Noun

But more appealing to me were the smaller bursts of creativity. — Tony Perrottet, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Nobody is more confident working with the Kings than Colter, whose swagger and comfort with bursts of goofiness are well-deployed, albeit with less emotional range in the early-going. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026

That was enough to run a wireless keyboard, with help from a capacitor, a small component that stores charge and releases it in bursts, although the study gives no total power figure for this wall version. — New Atlas, 4 Oct. 2026

Striking polka dahlias with cream petals edged in cranberry and fluffy yellow centers brought bursts of color to the ballroom. — Paul Chi, Vogue, 4 Oct. 2026

The laser accelerated electrons through a gas, directing them into a solid target to create light bursts that generated muon pairs. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026

In bursts of bright stanzas, Chen Chen transports us through the landscape of his childhood into his early twenties. — Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026

Phillips, meanwhile, faces a double-team from a pair of offensive linemen — that is, until the former Maryland standout showcases his signature strength and bursts through the duo, tackling Walker in the backfield. — Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026

Launched in 2004, the $364-million observatory is designed to pivot quickly — as its name suggests — to capture gamma ray bursts, exploding stars and other fast-breaking cosmic action. — Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026