Synonyms of bust

bust 1 of 3

noun

1

as in blow

a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument

delivered a bust to the boxer's chops

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blow
• slap
• hit
• punch
• whack
• knock
• thump
• pound
• swipe
• smack
• stroke
• thud
• bang
• poke
• lick
• beat
• spank
• slam
• hook
• kick
• clip
• crack
• clap
• chop
• cuff
• belt
• smash
• plump
• sock
• switch
• hack
• bat
• lash
• slug
• pick
• swat
• rap
• knee
• bop
• bash
• box
• pelt
• welt
• stripe
• wham
• fillip
• buffet
• biff
• clout
• stinger
• pounding
• swing
• dab
• licking
• wallop
• beating
• hand
• thwack
• whop
• haymaker
• left
• douse
• right
• larrup
• counter
• body blow
• whip
• sucker punch
• hammering
• roundhouse
• counterblow
• whipping
• shiver
• knockout
• knockdown
• counterstroke
• thrashing
• uppercut
• rabbit punch
• KO
• one-two
• battering
• pummeling
• flogging
• drubbing
• cruncher
• counterpunch
• sidewinder
• pasting
• clobbering
• bludgeoning
• right-hander
• walloping
• cudgeling
• lambasting
• kayo
• bastinado

2

as in disaster

something that has failed

the first movie was a hit, but the sequel was an unexpected bust

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disaster
• failure
• catastrophe
• bomb
• disappointment
• loser
• flop
• washout
• fiasco
• mess
• debacle
• miss
• lemon
• shipwreck
• fizzle
• dud
• frost
• turkey
• clunker
• has-been
• bummer
• clinker
• dog
• botch
• hash
• shambles
• near miss
• also-ran
• muddle
• nonevent
• nonstarter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• success
• hit
• blockbuster
• winner
• smash
• phenomenon
• corker
• crackerjack
• dandy
• jim-dandy

3

as in arrest

slang the act of taking or holding under one's control by authority of law

those lowlifes were nabbed for drug dealing in a massive bust last month

Synonyms & Similar Words

• arrest
• raid
• arrestment
• collar
• apprehension
• pinch
• seizure
• capture
• imprisonment
• restraint
• house arrest
• detention
• entrapment
• incarceration
• confinement
• captivity
• hold
• remand
• rearrest
• enchainment
• immurement

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discharge
• release
• liberation
• emancipation

4

as in spree

a bout of prolonged or excessive drinking

a bunch of underage kids having a beer bust while the parents were away for the weekend

Synonyms & Similar Words

• spree
• drunk
• binge
• bender
• carouse
• carousal
• toot
• jamboree
• wassail
• blowout
• revel
• drunkenness
• orgy
• revelry
• kegger
• jag
• bacchanalia
• inebriation
• intoxication
• inebriety
• tipsiness
• bibbery
• bibulousness

bust

2 of 3

verb

1

as in to reduce

to bring to a lower grade or rank

the commander threatened to bust her for failing to salute

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reduce
• demote
• sack
• downgrade
• dismiss
• degrade
• break
• can
• fire
• disrate
• downsize
• lay off
• lower
• humiliate
• humble
• demean
• cashier
• debase
• abase

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• raise
• promote
• advance
• hire
• elevate

2

as in to bankrupt

to cause to lose one's fortune and become unable to pay one's debts

gambling is a dangerous habit that has busted many unfortunate souls

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bankrupt
• ruin
• break
• reduce
• impoverish
• wipe out
• clean (out)
• pauperize
• beggar
• straiten

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• enrich
• richen

3

as in to disrupt

to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly

the butterfingered husband had busted more plates than he cared to remember

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disrupt
• break
• fracture
• fragment
• ruin
• reduce
• destroy
• disintegrate
• break up
• shatter
• smash
• crush
• burst
• split
• crack
• dismember
• rive
• explode
• blast
• powder
• grind
• wreck
• pop
• detonate
• chip
• blow up
• pulverize
• shiver
• implode
• atomize
• sliver
• splinter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• patch
• fix
• repair
• rebuild
• heal
• reconstruct
• mend
• renovate
• doctor
• recondition

4

as in to hit

to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner

busted the storekeeper on the nose and was promptly arrested for it

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hit
• smack
• slap
• knock
• punch
• bang
• slam
• clap
• whack
• strike
• crack
• pound
• clip
• kick
• bat
• swipe
• box
• bash
• clock
• nail
• push
• thump
• tap
• shove
• hammer
• slug
• belt
• lick
• tag
• rap
• swat
• sock
• bop
• bonk
• poke
• chop
• clout
• bump
• bob
• zap
• whale
• clobber
• smite
• flick
• bludgeon
• paste
• stab
• jab
• slog
• wallop
• stroke
• thwack
• biff
• butt
• rough
• beat
• cuff
• hang one on
• knee
• bung
• pummel
• maul
• slash
• lace
• dump
• pepper
• stamp
• pelt
• batter
• deck
• fell
• buffet
• drub
• cream
• whip
• lash
• mangle
• lambaste
• jostle
• scuff
• brain
• floor
• pommel
• club
• bunt
• skull
• cane
• spear
• bean
• knock down
• prod
• flail
• conk
• level
• switch
• bowl (down or over)
• sucker punch
• flog
• sap
• thrash
• cudgel
• sledgehammer
• sledge
• rabbit-punch

5

as in to arrest

slang to take or keep under one's control by authority of law

the cops busted the revelers for drinking in public

Synonyms & Similar Words

• arrest
• seize
• grab
• apprehend
• restrain
• run in
• detain
• jail
• pinch
• pull in
• nick
• capture
• nail
• nab
• snatch
• collar
• pick up
• commit
• trap
• catch
• hook
• snare
• incarcerate
• get
• land
• imprison
• confine
• snap (up)
• hold
• bag
• grapple
• bind
• handcuff
• lock (up)
• shackle
• jug
• intern
• trammel
• remand
• immure
• fetter
• manacle
• rearrest
• enchain

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discharge
• release
• loose
• loosen
• free
• spring
• liberate
• emancipate
• unbind
• unchain

6

as in to wear

to use up all the physical energy of

I had to bust my butt in order to get the project done on time

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wear
• kill
• exhaust
• tire
• drain
• break
• weary
• waste
• wear out
• knock out
• harass
• burn out
• wash out
• fatigue
• fag
• tucker (out)
• outwear
• wear to a frazzle
• weaken
• frazzle
• do up
• do in
• debilitate
• sap
• enfeeble
• enervate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• strengthen
• activate
• energize
• rest
• relax
• rejuvenate
• invigorate
• unwind
• vitalize

bust

3 of 3

adjective

variants or busted

as in bankrupt

Related Words

• bankrupt
• insolvent
• broke
• penniless
• needy
• bankrupted
• ruined
• impoverished
• poor
• destitute
• down-and-out
• penurious
• beggarly
• deprived
• impecunious
• indigent
• famished
• needful
• disadvantaged
• skint
• pinched
• beggared
• hard up
• threadbare
• pauperized
• dispossessed
• reduced
• poverty-stricken
• depressed
• dirt-poor
• underprivileged
• distressed
• necessitous
• short
• unaffluent
• tapped out
• possessionless
• straitened
• hardscrabble
• hand-to-mouth
• poorish
• low
• cash-strapped

Dissimilar Words

• prosperous
• comfortable
• fat
• flush
• wealthy
• rich
• opulent
• affluent
• moneyed
• well-to-do
• fat-cat
• silk-stocking
• well-off
• well-heeled
• deep-pocketed

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bust

Noun

The model’s Steve Madden footwear was styled alongside an all-white dress with a daisy print and a corseted bust. — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026

It’s been such an unsteady year, Andrew Friedman’s two big offseason acquisitions have been busts. — Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026

Verb

She was busted running a fake bookkeeping office on Fulton Avenue in Sacramento County, receiving a 30-day jail sentence. — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2026

The Bronx gunman wanted for killing an ex-con who had served time for pimping out girls returned to the crime scene two days later and was busted, police said Wednesday. — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026

Adjective

By the end of the night, the pavement was littered with busted watermelons, sodas and chips, according to law enforcement and social media videos. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026

If the case goes bust, the plaintiff or lawyer does not have to pay back the funder, but must pay taxes then on the funds provided. — Robert W. Wood, Forbes.com, 17 June 2026