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
Relevance
2
as in disaster
something that has failed
the first movie was a hit, but the sequel was an unexpected bust
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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1
as in to reduce
to bring to a lower grade or rank
the commander threatened to bust her for failing to salute
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
or busted
as in bankrupt
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of bust
Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2025
But experts who study market history are carefully attuned to boom and bust cycles and the inevitable volatility in nearly any market.
—John Werner, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2025
In Purdy's absence, Mac Jones, who had been branded as a bust over the previous couple of seasons, has filled in ably.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Ray Rahman, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2025
Officials said the migrants are from Senegal, Mali and Guinea and were busted for allegedly selling counterfeit items in the area.
—Greg Norman , Alexis McAdams , Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bust
Noun
The pair’s fight is fueled by the mundane (a busted dinner party) and the profound (Mark’s addiction, Dawn’s codependence, the constant pressure of professional fighting).
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2025
But experts who study market history are carefully attuned to boom and bust cycles and the inevitable volatility in nearly any market.
—John Werner, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
Consider for example the 2001 recession following the internet bust.
—Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2025
In Purdy's absence, Mac Jones, who had been branded as a bust over the previous couple of seasons, has filled in ably.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Some people think that the end of Wings came only in 1980, that that was the end of the movie, when I was busted for pot and served nine days in the Tokyo Narcotics Detention Center, but the truth is that the inspiration had already begun to move elsewhere.
—Ray Rahman, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2025
Officials said the migrants are from Senegal, Mali and Guinea and were busted for allegedly selling counterfeit items in the area.
—Greg Norman , Alexis McAdams , Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bust
Noun
-
Weddings are expensive, after all, and delaying the big honeymoon trip can help ease the blow by spreading out the cost.—
Jim Augerinos,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The Seacrest family has been dealt a devastating blow, Ryan Seacrest revealed on Friday morning.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The floods have also left 11 people missing, inundated more than 116,000 houses and 5,000 hectares of crops, and damaged roads and railways, cutting off traffic and power in several areas, the government’s disaster agency said in a report.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Desmond McKenzie, deputy chair of Jamaica's disaster risk management council, declined to share how many people have died, although authorities separately told AP at least four deaths occurred in southwest Jamaica.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Here’s everything to know about the murder of Chelsea Bruck, including how her Halloween costume led to her killer’s arrest.—
Kelsey Lentz,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Following the arrest, Johns Hopkins University Police Chief Branville Bard confirmed that investigators tracked the suspect’s movements throughout the day of the incident.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Gille, the suspect charged with one count of terrorism and 11 counts of assualt with intent to murder connected to a stabbing spree at a Walmart near Traverse City on July 26, is now being treated at the Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Saline.—
Natalie Davies,
Freep.com,
30 Oct. 2025
-
So, who was Aileen Wuornos, and what happened to her after her killing spree?—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
October has seen 93 blank sailings, up from 58 in September, according to data from maritime research firm Drewry, with container capacity reduced by roughly 7 percent month over month.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
29 Oct. 2025
-
By cutting the cost and complexity of closings, the company hopes to expand access to homeownership, reduce fraud, and help smaller regional title firms compete with national giants.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In 2025, healthcare costs have the potential to bankrupt even millionaires.—
Alex Ohnona,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Fifth Third Bancorp, for example, saw a jump in profit even as its credit losses grew due to exposure to bankrupt subprime auto lender Tricolor.—
Liz Napolitano,Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The real passengers on the ship were not particularly delighted to have large camera cables and lights and people disrupting their vacations.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Corn can provide carbohydrates, which can be vital to deer during the winter for a burst of energy, Edge said, but an increase in carbs can disrupt the animal's gut chemistry and affect digestion, much like giving children a lot of candy bars.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The online education company, founded 20 years ago, has been hit by the rise of generative AI software tools, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT, which have become increasingly popular among students.—
Annie Palmer,
CNBC,
28 Oct. 2025
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October 28, 2025 Ohtani hit his second home run of the night in the seventh inning to tie the matchup at five against the Toronto Blue Jays.—
Valentina Martinez,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bust. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.
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