as in broken
forcibly separated into many pieces
a busted headlight
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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.
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Recent Examples of busted
Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 1 June 2026
Moore suffered a possible broken nose and busted lip, the warrant said.
—Charlotte Observer, 1 June 2026
Makar may be part cyborg, but even the tightest machines can’t hide a busted axle.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 20 May 2026
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
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
ABC News, 12 June 2026
The 24-year-old’s burning desire, elite athleticism, and an electrifying season at Triple-A Albuquerque busted down the big-league door.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 10 June 2026
Ravenous, flesh-eating flies have busted through containment barriers and have now reemerged in the US.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 9 June 2026
Chwalińska was the symbol of a tournament busted wide open, a chaotic conflagration of all the forces of women’s tennis these days, where depth causes danger from the moment the first balls fly.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 6 June 2026
The Kennedy Center is broken, unsafe, and $busted, and has been for many years!
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026
The Kennedy Center is broken, unsafe, and $busted, and has been for many years!
—Chris Willman, Variety, 30 May 2026
Just trying to bust them around a little bit.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
LeBlanc’s homer was a two-run walk-off blast that busted a 12-12 tie.
—Gary Bedore
may 28, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026
Adjective
The components might be familiar—guitars that sound like they’re played through a busted Zenith TV at full volume, heavy acoustic strumming à la ’90s folk-grunge group Days of the New, Slocum’s fading read-out of a voice—but they’re all pulled into slightly unusual shapes.
—Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 1 June 2026
Moore suffered a possible broken nose and busted lip, the warrant said.
—Charlotte Observer, 1 June 2026
Makar may be part cyborg, but even the tightest machines can’t hide a busted axle.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 20 May 2026
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
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
Verb
But while a cash prize might be dangled, it's often never paid — particularly if the kid carrying out the crime gets busted.
—ABC News, 12 June 2026
The 24-year-old’s burning desire, elite athleticism, and an electrifying season at Triple-A Albuquerque busted down the big-league door.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 10 June 2026
Ravenous, flesh-eating flies have busted through containment barriers and have now reemerged in the US.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 9 June 2026
Chwalińska was the symbol of a tournament busted wide open, a chaotic conflagration of all the forces of women’s tennis these days, where depth causes danger from the moment the first balls fly.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 6 June 2026
The Kennedy Center is broken, unsafe, and $busted, and has been for many years!
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026
The Kennedy Center is broken, unsafe, and $busted, and has been for many years!
—Chris Willman, Variety, 30 May 2026
Just trying to bust them around a little bit.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
LeBlanc’s homer was a two-run walk-off blast that busted a 12-12 tie.
—Gary Bedore
may 28, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busted
Adjective
-
Canada’s first-ever World Cup win was overshadowed yesterday when midfielder Ismaël Koné suffered a broken leg after a tackle that left teammates shaken and coach Jesse Marsch lamenting an injury that turned a night of celebration into one of anguish.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
20 June 2026
-
But the win was a costly one since Canada, which entered the tournament missing three starters to injury, lost another early in the second half when midfielder Ismael Kone was carted off on a stretcher with an apparent broken leg after Qatar’s Assim Madibo clipped him from behind.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
Kay had to go to Japan to be allowed to do his thing, start and pitch without the threat of being demoted to the minors or released after any bad performance.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
17 June 2026
-
But Schultz was the fifth starter until his injury, and his replacement, David Sandlin, was demoted to Charlotte after three starts.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Showing up to shoot in person would only have ruined the city with its realness.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
17 June 2026
-
Pete Crow-Armstrong put his name in the Chicago Cubs' record book next to Hall of Fame slugger Hack Wilson — and then nearly ruined the celebration at Wrigley Field.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
And of how Iran’s preparation for this World Cup has been disrupted, this is definitely among the more minor.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
Travelers whose flights are disrupted should keep an eye out for change fee waivers and rebooking options from their airline.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
If the 348 was one of the few forgettable Ferraris, its successor knocked it out of the park with peerless styling, an exotic five-valve-per-cylinder V-8, and a quantum leap in performance.—
Basem Wasef,
Robb Report,
17 June 2026
-
There was Peninsula, which had knocked Harvard-Westlake from the playoffs during their freshman year.—
gqlshare,
Daily News,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
That September, he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and possession of marijuana following a vehicle crash in San Jose.—
Michael McGough,
Sacbee.com,
14 June 2026
-
Three weeks into his third season, Smith was involved in a single-car accident and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and possession of marijuana.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
All 12 people on board, including 11 skydivers and a pilot, were killed in the incident, authorities said.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
-
Air Force officials did not immediately identify the eight people killed or explain why there were more people aboard than the bomber’s standard crew complement.—
Reeti Malhotra,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
And while certainly shaken up, the driver and passenger (also test dummies in this case) likely could have walked away without being struck by shattered glass or a protruding antler.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
18 June 2026
-
His dream family apartment overlooking the Mediterranean Sea was a heap of rubble and shattered glass.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Busted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busted. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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