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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Relevance

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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

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 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

Noun

The storms that pummeled Southern California this week brought dramatic wind gusts, bursts of rain and lightning that set trees on fire, not to mention heavy snow. —

Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026 Curlers need an intense training regimen, dedicated to sustaining them through short bursts of cardiovascular exercise (sweeping) and keeping their legs flexible and strong to support the deep lunge position adopted when hurling the stone. —

Julia Frankel, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026 This type of system runs at lower speeds for longer cycles instead of in shorter bursts, essentially removing more moisture from the air. —

Jessica Elliott, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026 Trees provide essential structure to the landscape, and many also offer seasonal bursts of color through flowers or foliage. —

Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2026 Movement-tracking studies show even tiny, regular bursts of effort —as short as 30 seconds — can capture many of the health benefits of the gym. —

The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026 Because each collector operates slightly out of phase with the others as waves travel along the string, the system produces a steady flow of pressurized water, rather than sudden bursts of energy typical of many wave energy devices. —

New Atlas, 17 Feb. 2026 Available as either whole fruit or ready-to-eat arils, pomegranates bring bursts of sweetness, color, and texture to everything from salads and desserts to pizzas (yes, pizza). —

Bridget Shirvell, Martha Stewart, 16 Feb. 2026 Stars themselves can generate strong radio bursts, and separating planetary effects from stellar activity requires follow-up observations. —

Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 1 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bursts

Verb

The primary issue is that as such a problem grows, the number of possible solutions explodes exponentially to the extent that even quantum computers and supercomputers struggle to keep up.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 8 Feb. 2026
After debuting with minimal fanfare in November 2025, the provocative Canadian drama about rival hockey players whose passion explodes into lust (and eventually love) became a word-of-mouth sensation.

— Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Feb. 2026