busted 1 of 2

busted

2 of 2

verb

variants also bust
past tense of bust
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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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of busted
Adjective
During his time away, Mysterio also had surgery to repair a busted eardrum. Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025 Smith finished with just four catches for 49 yards, although Flott got lucky that Hurts over-threw the receiver on a busted coverage that could have resulted in an 89-yard touchdown early in the third quarter. Dan Duggan, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025 The pair’s fight is fueled by the mundane (a busted dinner party) and the profound (Mark’s addiction, Dawn’s codependence, the constant pressure of professional fighting). Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2025 This gave credence to the defense’s theory that police tampered with the evidence, including the busted taillight, pieces of which were later found at the crime scene, at 34 Fairview Road. Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025 The movie traces his early years, when a busted knee forced him to refocus his energy toward the stage. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2025 Simmons said a busted coverage led to a 59-yard, first-quarter pass play by Bethune-Cookman on third-and-14. Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 30 Aug. 2025
Verb
Ibarra busted numerous tackles for a season-high 216 yards on 17 carries. Dan Albano, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025 By the end, all of the Twisted Tea cans are busted and Tisa and Mighty are jiggin’ even when the cameras aren’t rolling. Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 17 Oct. 2025 At the Flow Space Women’s Health Summit on October 14 in Los Angeles, three expert doctors convened for a panel to bust myths and talk about what role GLP-1s play in the emerging science about metabolic health. Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 13 Oct. 2025 The Fisherman responded right away when Joseph Allen busted a 67-yard scamper to tie it at 14. Erik Anderson, Boston Herald, 11 Oct. 2025 Armed federal agents in military fatigues busted down doors, pulling men, women and children — some of them allegedly naked — from their apartments, residents and witnesses told the Chicago Sun-Times. Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025 In Manchester’s case, that meant climbing on to the roofs of local fast food joints in the greater North Carolina area, using his military skills to bust into the place, and proceed to empty the safe once the staff shows up for the morning shift. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2025 From photos posted on social media by the former NFL quarterback, a white vehicle received the brunt of the damage, while a Mercedes van was also busted. Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2025 Chisholm Trail’s Xavier Rodriguez was the one to bust Heights’ streak, with his touchdown with 36 seconds left in the first quarter. Ella Diaz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busted
Adjective
  • Unfortunately, it was later revealed that Ibushi had suffered a broken femur, something that could take a significant amount of time to return from.
    Jeremy Hanna, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Coristine recently recounted the incident that left him with a broken nose and a concussion.
    David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Chiefs are back, just as quickly as they were dismissed, and that’s in more than ways than post-game one-liners exuding some confidence after a convincing 30-17 win against the red-hot Lions.
    Sam McDowell October 13, Kansas City Star, 13 Oct. 2025
  • And these cases may very well be dismissed on that basis.
    ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Back in January, Preston remembered filming My Best Friend’s Wedding — and how an iconic scene ruined crab and lobster for her.
    Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
  • All the beautiful lines have been ruined.
    Sean Evans, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Kidman seemingly alluded to the challenges of her separation in a Harper's Bazaar interview published after the divorce news broke.
    Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Mark Jerome, who took over the program as executive director three years after the Lorch scandal broke, slowly built Riverside back to respectability between 2005 and 2015.
    Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Until Walter [Platz] smacked me in the head.
    Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
  • The back half of the New York Film Festival delivered a secret screening of a solid Academy Award contender, the box office smacked down a Venice Film Festival award winner, and two major contenders in the acting fields up and switched their categories.
    Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • When Kordia was arrested in March, the government accused her of terrorism.
    Aida Alami, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Andrew Stanton, 38, of Kenosha, was arrested last week and indicted Wednesday on three federal charges, including threatening to assault, kidnap or murder a US official, court records show.
    Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Islamists were seen as complicit in India’s worst plane hijack in 1999 and the 2008 attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul, which killed several Indian citizens, including two senior diplomats.
    Happymon Jacob, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
  • In April that year, an explosion at the facility killed one worker and injured four others, CNN affiliate WSMV reported.
    Isabel Rosales, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Guterres called for safe access for humanitarian workers, the removal of red tape and other impediments, the rebuilding of Gaza’s shattered infrastructure and funding to meet the immense needs.
    Yamiche Alcindor, NBC news, 10 Oct. 2025
  • What initially appeared to be just a shattered pelvis turned into a heartbreaking and unexpected death.
    Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Busted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busted. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

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