Synonyms of busted

busted 1 of 2

adjective

as in broken

forcibly separated into many pieces

a busted headlight

Synonyms & Similar Words

• broken
• shattered
• fractured
• smashed
• ruined
• collapsed
• damaged
• fragmented
• cracked
• split
• destroyed
• exploded
• blasted
• demolished
• splintered
• wrecked
• fragile
• mangled
• devastated
• mutilated
• disintegrated
• detonated
• pulverized
• imploded
• obliterated
• brittle
• delicate
• wiped out
• slivered
• breakable
• dynamited
• extirpated
• defaced
• ruinate
• frail
• eradicated
• frangible
• exterminated

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unbroken
• repaired
• fixed
• reconstructed
• patched
• healed
• mended
• rebuilt
• unbreakable
• infrangible

busted

2 of 2

verb

variants also bust

past tense of 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

• demoted
• reduced
• dismissed
• degraded
• downgraded
• broke
• sacked
• fired
• disrated
• laid off
• downsized
• cashiered
• canned
• humiliated
• lowered
• humbled
• debased
• demeaned
• abased

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• raised
• advanced
• promoted
• hired
• elevated

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

• ruined
• bankrupted
• broke
• reduced
• impoverished
• wiped out
• cleaned (out)
• beggared
• pauperized
• straitened

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• enriched
• richened

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

• disrupted
• broke
• fractured
• destroyed
• shattered
• disintegrated
• ruined
• reduced
• smashed
• fragmented
• broke up
• crushed
• split
• blasted
• cracked
• dismembered
• wrecked
• exploded
• popped
• ground
• pulverized
• burst
• rived
• powdered
• chipped
• detonated
• shivered
• blew up
• atomized
• splintered
• imploded
• slivered

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• repaired
• fixed
• rebuilt
• reconstructed
• healed
• patched
• renovated
• mended
• reconditioned
• doctored

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

• knocked
• smacked
• slapped
• hit
• punched
• slammed
• banged
• whacked
• clapped
• pounded
• cracked
• struck
• swiped
• clipped
• kicked
• batted
• bashed
• nailed
• hammered
• thumped
• shoved
• tapped
• socked
• poked
• rapped
• licked
• clobbered
• pushed
• swatted
• boxed
• slugged
• bopped
• jabbed
• clocked
• zapped
• thwacked
• bobbed
• stabbed
• pasted
• chopped
• bludgeoned
• flicked
• tagged
• clouted
• walloped
• whaled
• bumped
• biffed
• smote
• belted
• bonked
• slogged
• battered
• pummeled
• mangled
• stroked
• mauled
• beat
• cuffed
• roughed
• bunged
• buffeted
• lashed
• stamped
• dumped
• slashed
• laced
• peppered
• hung one on
• scuffed
• butted
• lambasted
• pelted
• whipped
• jostled
• decked
• drubbed
• prodded
• creamed
• kneed
• felled
• conked
• pommeled
• switched
• thrashed
• speared
• bunted
• floored
• clubbed
• leveled
• sapped
• flailed
• knocked down
• flogged
• caned
• sledgehammered
• beaned
• bowled (down or over)
• sucker punched
• brained
• sledged
• cudgeled
• rabbit-punched
• skulled

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

• arrested
• seized
• grabbed
• apprehended
• pinched
• nailed
• restrained
• nicked
• detained
• nabbed
• caught
• captured
• jailed
• committed
• collared
• snatched
• ran in
• pulled in
• trapped
• picked up
• hooked
• imprisoned
• incarcerated
• landed
• snared
• confined
• handcuffed
• snapped (up)
• bound
• got
• grappled
• bagged
• locked (up)
• held
• shackled
• interned
• jugged
• fettered
• remanded
• immured
• manacled
• rearrested
• trammeled
• enchained

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discharged
• released
• sprang
• loosened
• freed
• liberated
• loosed
• emancipated
• unchained
• unbound

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

• killed
• wore
• tired
• exhausted
• drained
• broke
• harassed
• knocked out
• burned out
• wasted
• wearied
• fatigued
• washed out
• wore out
• fagged
• frazzled
• weakened
• tuckered (out)
• did in
• outwore
• did up
• wore to a frazzle
• sapped
• debilitated
• enfeebled
• enervated

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• activated
• strengthened
• energized
• rested
• rejuvenated
• relaxed
• invigorated
• vitalized
• unwound

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of busted

Adjective

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

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

Verb

Rooted in a combustible mix of left-wing populism and petro-state largesse, the movement secured loyalty through social programs funded by an oil boom that has long since turned to bust. —Boris Muñoz, Time, 3 Apr. 2026

Catcher Danny Jansen hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning to bust open a close game, and the Rangers held on for an 8-5 road win over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday. —Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026

So the pig pulled out two old warrants and busted him on them. —Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026

Here are a couple of myths the experts busted. —Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026

Then, during Hurricane Helene in September 2024, the box finally busted open. —Natalia V. Osipova, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026

In December, Foley’s office busted two Haitian nationals in a $7 million SNAP fraud scheme that ran out of a tiny store operating as a front for the criminal operation in Mattapan. —Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2026

Those are the stories that entrance and often delight a nation, even as brackets are busted from coast to coast. —Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 25 Mar. 2026

Iowa just busted America's brackets The 2026 NCAA Men's Tournament had a game decided with a go-ahead bucket in the final five seconds. —Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026