as in broken
forcibly separated into many pieces
a busted headlight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also bust
1
as in demoted
to bring to a lower grade or rank
the commander threatened to bust her for failing to salute
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ruined
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disrupted
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in knocked
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
5
as in arrested
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in killed
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
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 busted
Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 1 May 2026
Anyone with a busted NCAA Tournament bracket can still appreciate the bracket one mom has put up on her family's wall in Chicago's southwest suburbs.
—Noel Brennan, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
McAneney had a busted lip and a scratch underneath his right eye in his mugshot.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026
Offices are buzzing about busted brackets, surprise upsets, Cinderella stories, and who’s cutting down the nets.
—Kelsey Monstrola, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
Back then, touring on a busted bus was the dream.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2026
Each year, March Madness can leave you with a busted bracket, so give yourself another chance to pick a winner with The Courier Journal's Louisville nachos tournament.
—Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 9 Mar. 2026
Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and CHP officers blocked off the shooting scene around a white sedan with front-end damage, a busted windshield and deployed airbags.
—City News Service, Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
Miami unlocked the deep game just before halftime, taking advantage of a busted coverage for a 52-yard touchdown pass from Beck to Keelan Marion.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
Bill Kemp, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 May 2026
Two failed crops means they are completely busted.
—Diaa Hadid, NPR, 16 May 2026
Alexander sent Slater into the steel steps, leaving him busted open.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
Chkhikvishvili, a citizen of the nation of Georgia, was busted in July 2024 for trying to recruit someone, who turned out to be an undercover fed, into taking part in murder, bombing and arson plots.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 13 May 2026
The Rollins-Breakker singles match is the next chapter in a feud that picked up serious momentum when Breakker got busted open by a Rollins chair shot on the Raw After Mania.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 9 May 2026
Sixty-five years on, the odd couple has renewed their proverbial vows more times than they’ve been busted for drugs.
—Bob Spitz, Air Mail, 9 May 2026
Though three fillies have crossed the finish line first, no female jockey or trainer had won it until DeVaux busted through the barn ceiling, taking down the old-boy network made of flannel, denim, seersucker and cigars.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
At the climax, the music, seemingly stuck in a digital rut, comes to a halt as a static image of Charli is busted through by a bunch of young men seemingly bringing a mosh pit out into the open.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 8 May 2026
Adjective
Here is the story of Eternally Yours, the first-ever busted script featured on Dead Pilots Society to subsequently make it to series.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 1 May 2026
Anyone with a busted NCAA Tournament bracket can still appreciate the bracket one mom has put up on her family's wall in Chicago's southwest suburbs.
—Noel Brennan, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
McAneney had a busted lip and a scratch underneath his right eye in his mugshot.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026
Offices are buzzing about busted brackets, surprise upsets, Cinderella stories, and who’s cutting down the nets.
—Kelsey Monstrola, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
Back then, touring on a busted bus was the dream.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2026
Each year, March Madness can leave you with a busted bracket, so give yourself another chance to pick a winner with The Courier Journal's Louisville nachos tournament.
—Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 9 Mar. 2026
Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and CHP officers blocked off the shooting scene around a white sedan with front-end damage, a busted windshield and deployed airbags.
—City News Service, Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
Miami unlocked the deep game just before halftime, taking advantage of a busted coverage for a 52-yard touchdown pass from Beck to Keelan Marion.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
But the Silverhawks busted open a 24-24 tie and captured the final two points to secure the 26-24 win, and take a 2-0 lead in the match.
—Bill Kemp, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 May 2026
Two failed crops means they are completely busted.
—Diaa Hadid, NPR, 16 May 2026
Alexander sent Slater into the steel steps, leaving him busted open.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
Chkhikvishvili, a citizen of the nation of Georgia, was busted in July 2024 for trying to recruit someone, who turned out to be an undercover fed, into taking part in murder, bombing and arson plots.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 13 May 2026
The Rollins-Breakker singles match is the next chapter in a feud that picked up serious momentum when Breakker got busted open by a Rollins chair shot on the Raw After Mania.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 9 May 2026
Sixty-five years on, the odd couple has renewed their proverbial vows more times than they’ve been busted for drugs.
—Bob Spitz, Air Mail, 9 May 2026
Though three fillies have crossed the finish line first, no female jockey or trainer had won it until DeVaux busted through the barn ceiling, taking down the old-boy network made of flannel, denim, seersucker and cigars.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
At the climax, the music, seemingly stuck in a digital rut, comes to a halt as a static image of Charli is busted through by a bunch of young men seemingly bringing a mosh pit out into the open.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 8 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busted
Adjective
-
Daniel, who spent years in the plush comfort of Silicon Valley tech roles — unlimited PTO, big teams, no broken dryers — is logging something closer to 60 hours a week now, bouncing between laptop, factory floor, and a dairy farm eight miles up the road.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
15 May 2026
-
The court was told that Paul and her 10-month-old son were in one of the seven cars involved in the collision, resulting in the baby sustaining a broken leg, per Toronto Sun and CBC.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The UConn Club Running team, which is being demoted, had 120 members last fall.—
Katie Servas,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
-
Will Smith has been a disappointment as teammate Dalton Rushing has outearned him, despite 50+ fewer at bats, while Agustín Ramírez has fallen out of the ranks after being demoted to the minors.—
Dalton Del Don,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
On Friday, a pitchers’ duel was ruined by a circus act of an inning, and the Cardinals beat the Padres 6-0.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
And then to add insult to that heaping helping of figurative injury, the nachos took some collateral damage and were effectively ruined.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Water pressure is building back up in the Oakland County, Michigan, communities affected by a 42-inch water main that broke early Sunday and disrupted service.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
-
But last month, as Iran’s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz disrupted exports from other nations, that proportion surged to 18%, Xu said.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
The deputy then spoke with the boy, who said the water bottle Schuman threw hit him on the side of his stomach and knocked his phone down.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
13 May 2026
-
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating vandalism at Old Memphis Cemetery in Palmetto, where deputies say 17 grave sites were damaged with broken and knocked-down headstones, graffiti and damaged concrete.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Police said Suarez was arrested and charged with two counts of manslaughter, three counts of vehicular manslaughter, two counts of vehicular assault and driving while intoxicated.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
-
Jessica Moncallo, 30, was arrested and booked into the Dawson County Jail on May 11 in connection with a single-vehicle crash that claimed the life of a 16-year-old driver on April 15 on County Road 18, the Texas Department of Public Safety said in a press release on Tuesday, May 12.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Once troopers arrived, Williams raised the firearm and pointed it toward police before Blanchette shot and killed her, the report said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
-
Israeli attacks have killed nearly four hundred people since April 16th and Israel’s forces have continued to destroy villages and consolidate territorial gains in southern Lebanon.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
Of his injuries, his three shattered vertebrae required the longest recovery time.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
Later, a long close-up of a shattered glass of milk works neither as visual rhyme with the snowy setting nor dramatic insight.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Busted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busted. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
