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
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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
Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
In layman’s terms, Castle literally busted his backside to beat the Lakers.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 11 Feb. 2026
The pipes busted during the cold.
—Monique John, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
The trio busted budgets as well as deadlines but made enduring movies.
—Michael O’Donnell, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
Erik Duran, 38, was found guilty in the August 2023 death of Eric Duprey, who was speeding away from undercover police along a sidewalk in the Bronx after allegedly being busted for selling them $20 worth of cocaine, trial testimony revealed, the New York Post reported.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 7 Feb. 2026
Paul George was already mired in yet another regression before he got busted by the league’s drug-use policy.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
Demario Douglas scored a touchdown against a zero blitz against the Texans, but Houston busted a coverage.
—Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Tillis’ letter referenced an incident in which agents busted an American citizen’s window in Charlotte, and another in which a different citizen in Cary was arrested at his workplace before agents dumped him and his belongings in the woods.
—Ryan Oehrli
updated February 4, Charlotte Observer, 4 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
States where groceries bust your budget Most Americans are feeling the pain of rising grocery prices, as everyday staples like beef, coffee, and fresh fruits and vegetables cost more.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
In layman’s terms, Castle literally busted his backside to beat the Lakers.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 11 Feb. 2026
The pipes busted during the cold.
—Monique John, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
The trio busted budgets as well as deadlines but made enduring movies.
—Michael O’Donnell, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
Erik Duran, 38, was found guilty in the August 2023 death of Eric Duprey, who was speeding away from undercover police along a sidewalk in the Bronx after allegedly being busted for selling them $20 worth of cocaine, trial testimony revealed, the New York Post reported.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 7 Feb. 2026
Paul George was already mired in yet another regression before he got busted by the league’s drug-use policy.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
Demario Douglas scored a touchdown against a zero blitz against the Texans, but Houston busted a coverage.
—Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Tillis’ letter referenced an incident in which agents busted an American citizen’s window in Charlotte, and another in which a different citizen in Cary was arrested at his workplace before agents dumped him and his belongings in the woods.
—Ryan Oehrli
updated February 4, Charlotte Observer, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busted
Adjective
-
Harbin, who transferred from Portage after also attending Bishop Noll and Don Bosco, gained eligibility, and Young returned after suffering a broken hand.—
Michael Osipoff,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Many have pointed out that the evidence of climate change has only grown stronger over time with annual heat records being set and broken year after year and weather extremes from hurricanes to flooding to wildfires exacerbated by climate change.—
John Moritz,
Hartford Courant,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Gingles had been nearly demoted at his job, the co-worker said, due to taking too much time off because of his pending divorce.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Bovino was demoted last month, two days after federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Jan 24.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
These liberals have ruined this state.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Simple fasting from food can be ruined — rendered not pleasing to Allah — if spoiled by telling lies, slander, denouncing someone behind his back, swearing a false oath, greed or covetousness.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Economic and religious activities disrupted by DHS Muslims in Minneapolis, estimated now to be more than 100,000, have lived in the city for well over a century, and the city has embraced them.—
Yahya Salem,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
When breathing stops or becomes shallow, sleep is disrupted and the body may experience drops in oxygen.—
Sarah Jividen,
Verywell Health,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Cooper went up for a fast-break dunk and Jamerson knocked him to the floor.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
In his complaint, Rodriguez alleges the punch from Garcia knocked him unconscious.—
Austin Sanders,
Austin American Statesman,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The men ran into an apartment and eventually were arrested.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
As the situation remains fraught in Iran, and with several opposition politicians arrested just this week, Vogue speaks to three Iranian designers on why their home country needs our support right now.—
Emily Chan,
Vogue,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But seething popular anger has not abated in the weeks following a government crackdown that killed thousands of protesters, according to accounts from inside the country.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Silas, 29, and Tishauna Ballard, 24, were killed; two others were injured.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
In the aftermath, astronomers used the Hubble Space Telescope and other observatories around the world to track a couple of dozen pieces of the shattered comet, in what appeared to be grouped in four main clusters of icy debris.—
Kiona N. Smith,
Space.com,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The physical wounds will heal, Romero said, but the psychological toll and the shattered trust will not dissipate any time soon.—
Michael Kaplan,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Busted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busted. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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