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 dismissed
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 broke
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 smacked
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of busted
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 28 Oct. 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
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
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
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
After a brief exchange of strikes in which Gane busted Aspinall's nose, the challenger’s outstretched hand caught both of Aspinall’s eyes, leaving the British fighter unable to see.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
The Jays capitalized on the Dodgers’ weak middle relief after chasing starter Blake Snell in the sixth inning to bust open a massive lead.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Some people think that the end of Wings came only in 1980, that that was the end of the movie, when I was busted for pot and served nine days in the Tokyo Narcotics Detention Center, but the truth is that the inspiration had already begun to move elsewhere.
—Ray Rahman, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2025
In the last few years, MLB, NFL, NCAA and the NBA all have examples of players who have been busted for either betting on games, or effectively tanking to affect a bet.
—Mac Engel
october 23, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2025
Officials said the migrants are from Senegal, Mali and Guinea and were busted for allegedly selling counterfeit items in the area.
—Greg Norman , Alexis McAdams , Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Mundt busted through the line for the touchdown to make it 14-0.
—Steve Fryer, 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
Adjective
While that possession ended in a sack, Maye extended the next series by rolling outside the pocket and finding DeMario Douglas on a busted snap of man-to-man coverage for 44 yards.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 28 Oct. 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
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
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
There is some questions about the relationship of previous players that have been busted.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
After a brief exchange of strikes in which Gane busted Aspinall's nose, the challenger’s outstretched hand caught both of Aspinall’s eyes, leaving the British fighter unable to see.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
The Jays capitalized on the Dodgers’ weak middle relief after chasing starter Blake Snell in the sixth inning to bust open a massive lead.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Some people think that the end of Wings came only in 1980, that that was the end of the movie, when I was busted for pot and served nine days in the Tokyo Narcotics Detention Center, but the truth is that the inspiration had already begun to move elsewhere.
—Ray Rahman, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2025
In the last few years, MLB, NFL, NCAA and the NBA all have examples of players who have been busted for either betting on games, or effectively tanking to affect a bet.
—Mac Engel
october 23, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2025
Officials said the migrants are from Senegal, Mali and Guinea and were busted for allegedly selling counterfeit items in the area.
—Greg Norman , Alexis McAdams , Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Mundt busted through the line for the touchdown to make it 14-0.
—Steve Fryer, 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busted
Adjective
-
The series follows the slow and halting coming together of Noah, reeling from a broken relationship, and Joanne (Kristen Bell), an agnostic podcaster with seemingly little in common with the spiritual leader.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
-
McQueen’s set covered a broken engagement and entering the dating pool as a newly single guy as Sweeney and Braun held hands under the table and sipped on bottles of water.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
India lost its review in desperation to get Wolvaardt dismissed, and then gambled with Verma’s gentle off-breakers.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The lawsuit was dismissed in March after a judge found the group had no standing to pursue the claims made.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
An old fur coat or feather stole could also be ruined.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Cash is king right now, Hsia said, and the AFJ is matching up to $1 million in donations that will go toward things such as new roofs for houses whose roofs were blown off and new furniture after many people's belongings were soaked through and ruined.—
Matt Nighswander,
NBC news,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The glass then broke on the ground.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Rollins broke the fall with his arm and immediately began favoring it upon landing.—
Fernando Quiles Jr,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
With that, Kirk smacked a grounder to shortstop Mookie Betts who stepped on second base, throwing to Freeman at first for the final two outs.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
2 Nov. 2025
-
The incidents were the latest to occur in the area since mid-September, when North Carolina’s east coast started being smacked by strong winds and surf waves.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Wondra wasn’t charged with those felonies until March 2023, after she’d been arrested in connection with Michael’s death.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Two participants have been arrested, and three others are being questioned, one of those officials said.—
Holly Yan,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Firefighters whisper about a gas main as a little girl, Dinah, is carried out of the wreckage—the sole survivor of a blast that killed her mom.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
29 Oct. 2025
-
As various ancient sources recount, after Achilles is killed by Paris, the Greeks resort to deception.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Yamamoto earned his third victory, a 5-4 triumph over the Toronto Blue Jays that ended in the 11th inning on the shattered bat of Alejandro Kirk, who tapped a splitter to Mookie Betts at shortstop for a season-ending double play.—
Tyler Kepner,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
-
The second suspect, a 39-year-old man also from Aubervilliers, was already known to police for thefts; his DNA was discovered on the shattered display case and other items left behind.—
Barney Henderson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Busted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busted. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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