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
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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
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Recent Examples of busted
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
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
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
The mess has led to the rise of former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, whose longtime top advisor just pleaded guilty to fraud after being busted in a scheme to steal funds from one of Becerra’s campaign accounts that was dormant.
—Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
Gulotta said that just on Tuesday two teens were busted subway surfing on the Williamsburg, with three more busted in Bensonhurst for riding on the back of an F train.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 27 May 2026
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
Adjective
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
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
Verb
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
The mess has led to the rise of former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, whose longtime top advisor just pleaded guilty to fraud after being busted in a scheme to steal funds from one of Becerra’s campaign accounts that was dormant.
—Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
Gulotta said that just on Tuesday two teens were busted subway surfing on the Williamsburg, with three more busted in Bensonhurst for riding on the back of an F train.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 27 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busted
Adjective
-
Lemieux left Draper with a fractured jaw, broken cheekbone and a broken nose.—
Dan Robson,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
-
The formula has almond, macadamia, and olive oils to moisturize, plus hydrolyzed keratin to support broken strands.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
Glamour,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Who stays in the rotation and who gets demoted to the bullpen?—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
-
People management, on its own, is being quietly demoted.—
Mark Murphy,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Items that fall in the toilet are soggy, in need of sanitizing, and possibly ruined.—
Abby Wolner,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 June 2026
-
Our house, ruined by the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake, was rebuilt from the foundation up.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Fragmented sleep, irregular sleep timing, and disrupted circadian rhythms can all negatively affect your health.—
Brian Mastroianni,
Health,
2 June 2026
-
Spurs deserve credit for acting swiftly and learning their lessons from last summer when the uncertainty over the future of then head coach Ange Postecoglou disrupted their plans and contributed to them missing out on key targets.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
The committee’s volunteers knocked on more than 32,000 doors, made more than 50,000 calls and distributed more than 1,200 yard signs, according to Andrew Kim from the Yes on Measure V Davis ground team.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2026
-
Arizona State upset Texas in the first game, as Kavan was uncharacteristically knocked around for eight hits and three earned runs across five innings.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Oppenheimer, 35 of Cambridge, was arrested in July 2024 and pleaded guilty in January to one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and two counts of wire fraud.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
-
At least 45 people were arrested in Paris on Saturday after celebrations over Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League victory descended into chaos, with fires set, businesses vandalized and crowds clashing with police.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
At least 13 people were killed in the overnight assault that Ukraine’s military said involved more than 600 drones and dozens of missiles, including advanced hypersonics.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
-
Israel says 23 of its soldiers and four civilians have been killed over the same period.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
The early bones were too shattered to identify.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
28 May 2026
-
In 1987, members of the national media praised Minnesotans for their joyous and generally family-friendly celebration of the Twins’ first World Series title, free of the shattered windows, tear gas and burning cars.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Busted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busted. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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