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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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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
François Candelon, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2025
Indulge in a gorgeous beef filet oven-baked with potatoes, mountain herbs, and red chilies after a lung-busting day skiing.
—Chadner Navarro, Vogue, 30 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
These teams combine the boundary-busting power of AI with diverse human expertise to consistently produce breakthrough solutions.
—François Candelon, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2025
Indulge in a gorgeous beef filet oven-baked with potatoes, mountain herbs, and red chilies after a lung-busting day skiing.
—Chadner Navarro, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bust
Noun
-
Michael Owens / Getty Images A struggling Chicago Bears defense was dealt another blow Monday with news that defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo tore his Achilles and is going to miss the rest of the season.—
Kevin Fishbain,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The rain came down sideways, the temperature dipped from the 50s to the 40s, and Inter Miami’s playoff hopes took a big blow on Saturday night as Lionel Messi and his teammates lost 2-1 on the road to Nashville SC.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
2 Nov. 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
-
But the science shows exercising late at night, just before bed can disrupt sleep.—
Allison Aubrey,
NPR,
3 Nov. 2025
-
China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force and Navy both operate advanced jamming aircraft, such as the J-16D, equipped with pods that can disrupt radar, GPS, and datalinks across wide areas.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Shein—a global fast-fashion juggernaut headquartered in Singapore—was mere days away from opening its first physical store in Paris, inside the BHV Marais department store, when the news hit.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Rojas, a light-hitting infielder, hit an unexpected home run in the ninth inning of Game Seven to tie it and force extra innings, when the Dodgers won it.—
Steve Futterman,
NPR,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bust. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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