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

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

The system has long felt busted and old-fashioned, but a new slate of rules were announced on May 1 that expanded the qualifying rules for the category. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 1 May 2026

Flyers forward Christian Dvorak's celebration hit a little too hard — a cut busted open above his right eye during the victorious on-ice party and blood streamed down his cheek. —CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026

In today’s case, the two found the speaker and microphone busted. —New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026

Her government has handed over scores of cartel suspects to the United States, arrested hundreds of other cartel operatives and busted numerous illicit drug laboratories, among other steps. —Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026

Police sources said the suspect is a gang member who in 2016 was one of 120 Bronx gang members busted by the feds in what was then the biggest gang takedown in New York City history. —Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2026

Caught in this scenario is his sport that still needs him, busted parts and all, but would love nothing more than for the focus to be on the great players who are playing its most famous tournament. —Mac Engel april 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026

The trucking industry in general has been struggling to bounce back for years after experiencing an unprecedented boom, then bust, through the COVID-19 pandemic. —Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026

So there’s no use in dwelling on the details, and there’s nothing like one-way airfare to bust your life open anyway. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 9 Apr. 2026