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.
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Recent Examples of busted
Jermont Terry, CBS News, 6 Feb. 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
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.
—Dallas Morning News, 8 Jan. 2026
The final two sacks unaccounted for came on busted plays.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 27 Nov. 2025
The difference is Dart found wide open TE for easy TD on busted coverage.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025
After a holding penalty pushed the Steelers back to their own 32, Rodgers took advantage of busted coverage and threw to Freiermuth in a soft spot in the zone.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
During his time away, Mysterio also had surgery to repair a busted eardrum.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Sabrina Franza, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
Johnson, who is currently on parole for robbery until 2027, has an extensive criminal record that includes a whopping 131 arrests since he was first busted for a Bronx assault in 1995, cops said.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 4 Mar. 2026
Its big-toothed smile is busted.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
Imagine even bubbles bust a cap in the ceiling.
—Kortney Morrow, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2026
In Minneapolis, Minnesota, a home healthcare agency named Twin Cities Care Services received $116,000 in reimbursements over just two months in 2024, even though the business was busted eight years earlier for Medicaid fraud.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026
Agents ran into a grocery store with guns, busted a United States citizen’s truck window and lingered outside an office belonging to an immigrant-friendly nonprofit, among other controversies.
—Ryan Oehrli
updated February 26, Charlotte Observer, 26 Feb. 2026
Perhaps weeks, months, or years from now, a 2026 Olympic ski jumper from Norway will be busted for crotch violations.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 23 Feb. 2026
Canada missed out on a handful of chances to bust the game open.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
The break-in left Perakis to deal with a busted window and a mess inside.
—Jermont Terry, CBS News, 6 Feb. 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
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.
—Dallas Morning News, 8 Jan. 2026
The final two sacks unaccounted for came on busted plays.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 27 Nov. 2025
The difference is Dart found wide open TE for easy TD on busted coverage.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025
After a holding penalty pushed the Steelers back to their own 32, Rodgers took advantage of busted coverage and threw to Freiermuth in a soft spot in the zone.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
During his time away, Mysterio also had surgery to repair a busted eardrum.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
Inside the agents busted holes in the walls and doors.
—Sabrina Franza, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
Johnson, who is currently on parole for robbery until 2027, has an extensive criminal record that includes a whopping 131 arrests since he was first busted for a Bronx assault in 1995, cops said.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 4 Mar. 2026
Its big-toothed smile is busted.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
Imagine even bubbles bust a cap in the ceiling.
—Kortney Morrow, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2026
In Minneapolis, Minnesota, a home healthcare agency named Twin Cities Care Services received $116,000 in reimbursements over just two months in 2024, even though the business was busted eight years earlier for Medicaid fraud.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026
Agents ran into a grocery store with guns, busted a United States citizen’s truck window and lingered outside an office belonging to an immigrant-friendly nonprofit, among other controversies.
—Ryan Oehrli
updated February 26, Charlotte Observer, 26 Feb. 2026
Perhaps weeks, months, or years from now, a 2026 Olympic ski jumper from Norway will be busted for crotch violations.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 23 Feb. 2026
Canada missed out on a handful of chances to bust the game open.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 23 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busted
Adjective
-
But anyone who opens a new E-ZPass account or is looking to replace a broken transponder will instead get a free windshield sticker, which has radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology embedded into the paper.—
Neal Riley,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The attack stemmed from a long-running dispute over yard debris and resulted in Paul suffering six broken ribs, pneumonia, and having part of a lung removed.—
Dale Denwalt,
Oklahoman,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Informed that he would be demoted to a depth role, Spence asked for a trade and was dealt to the Ottawa Senators for two mid-round draft picks.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
1 Mar. 2026
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With the arrival of John Harbaugh at the Giants and the appointment of Dawn Aponte, Joe Schoen seemingly has been demoted/relegated to only scouting.—
Chad Graff,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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What father would ever allow such devastation, assuring fellow patriarchs that their lives without sons would be ruined forever?—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Burd and Batalucco have essentially ruined their home by placing cameras everywhere so Friends Keep Secrets can always be capturing whoever is wherever.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The conflict has disrupted energy production in the Middle East and led to a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route.—
Chloe Taylor,Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The conflict has also disrupted airspace across parts of the Middle East, forcing airlines to reroute flights, particularly between Europe and Asia, along longer routes that burn more fuel and keep aircraft in the air for longer.—
Scott Campbell,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One of the teens fell off the vehicle and was knocked unconscious.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Another officer knocked repeatedly at the door, but there was no answer, though Wojcik said the officers could see someone was inside.—
Evy Lewis,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Between February 27 and March 2, the investigators found and arrested four suspects.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Three people were arrested, and an investigation is underway, Tisch said.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Four civilians died in the UAE, while two members of its armed forces were killed when a malfunctioning helicopter crashed.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The Pentagon identified the seventh soldier killed in the Iran war as Army Sgt.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Scenarios include a shattered phone screen, an avalanche of products in the grocery store and a drum spill on a morning commute.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
6 Mar. 2026
-
An officer at the scene was injured by shattered glass when the light pole fell onto the police patrol vehicle, San Diego police spokesperson Officer Colin Steinbroner said at the time of the shooting.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Busted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busted. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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