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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bursts
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
As Antoine Semenyo chases a loose ball down the left flank, left-back Adrien Truffert bursts forward to support him inside.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 8 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
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
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
This stick-slip behavior is explained by the elastic-rebound theory, which describes how strain builds gradually and is released in sudden bursts.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Harsh reforms led to bursts of prosperity.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 26 Oct. 2025
In the two designers’ collections, the color black dominates, with occasional bursts of color used to create strong contrasts.
—Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025
When an aneurysm bursts, Moore said, clamping or coiling — filling the bubble with wire — are effective treatments.
—Kaan Ozcan, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
Beyond this, annual flowers such as petunias, marigolds, and zinnias can be used to add bursts of color throughout your beds and borders.
—William Jones, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
There's a rhythm to the way this name trades which includes big bursts of enthusiasm followed by periods of consolidation where the market digests the prior rally.
—Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2025
Beau Webster offers steady control and batting depth if selected, while Lyon, with 562 Test wickets, provides the stability that allows the front-line quicks to attack in bursts.
—Sukhman Singh, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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
As Antoine Semenyo chases a loose ball down the left flank, left-back Adrien Truffert bursts forward to support him inside.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 8 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
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
Remember to be patient as auroras may arrive in quiet bursts, glowing faintly before becoming vibrant waves of color.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
This stick-slip behavior is explained by the elastic-rebound theory, which describes how strain builds gradually and is released in sudden bursts.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Harsh reforms led to bursts of prosperity.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 26 Oct. 2025
In the two designers’ collections, the color black dominates, with occasional bursts of color used to create strong contrasts.
—Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025
When an aneurysm bursts, Moore said, clamping or coiling — filling the bubble with wire — are effective treatments.
—Kaan Ozcan, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
Beyond this, annual flowers such as petunias, marigolds, and zinnias can be used to add bursts of color throughout your beds and borders.
—William Jones, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
There's a rhythm to the way this name trades which includes big bursts of enthusiasm followed by periods of consolidation where the market digests the prior rally.
—Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2025
Beau Webster offers steady control and batting depth if selected, while Lyon, with 562 Test wickets, provides the stability that allows the front-line quicks to attack in bursts.
—Sukhman Singh, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bursts
Verb
-
And rents, until recently, had jumped as demand for rentals explodes – because so few homes have been on the market.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
-
After Paul causes a boating accident that kills a young woman, the family explodes.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The latest expression that shatters the 140-proof mark comes from Louisville blender Barrell Craft Spirits, and this is one blend of whiskeys finished in Caribbean rum barrels that should be on any whiskey masochist’s bottle list.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Her decision to walk away seems like an act of autonomy — until the final sequence shatters any illusion of closure.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Beetle buzzes by with tiny pumpkins perched on top, and Xuanwu, a ground robot carrying a drone, walks ominously in the background.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
-
In September, New York buzzes with the energy of New York Fashion Week (NYFW).—
Tabitha Britt,
Flow Space,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
As rain pattered against windows, and trees lining the streets swayed, flurries of urgent texts began ricocheting from one end of the neighborhood to the other, and panic set in as some residents put on their shoes and hurried out the door.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Mild with occasional snow flurries, but calm most of the week.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
These meteors are particularly known for being rich in fireballs, illuminating the sky with large explosions of light and color, and can produce about five meteors an hour at their peak.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
3 Nov. 2025
-
It’s most often seen in people who play sports like football, hockey and soccer, but it’s also been detected in the brains of soldiers who have been injured in explosions and in some people who experienced domestic violence.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Historically, volcanic eruptions have blasted millions of tons of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Oct. 2025
-
These vast eruptions hurl immense clouds of magnetized plasma from the sun's corona into interplanetary space, sometimes at millions of miles per hour.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
29 Oct. 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
-
As Richard tries to kill Carrie, Sigrid shoots him in the shoulder and Lo smashes him in the face with a piece of boating equipment.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
-
As several women listen intently, Belushi, donning a toga, rips the guitar out of Bishop's hands and smashes it into a wall.—
Mark Gray,
PEOPLE,
5 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bursts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bursts. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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