as in broken
forcibly separated into many pieces
a busted headlight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of busted
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
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 8 Sep. 2025
Anyway, Agnes gets busted and shoved in a cell to be a snack for later.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
Nieves was busted after a GPS device planted in a 2012 Corvette by WFTV reporter Jeff Deal revealed the car was rolling within hours of being dropped off.
—Josh Max, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Miami had busted a tight game open in the third quarter to lead 21-7 on CharMar Brown’s 5-yard touchdown run.
—Miami Herald, 1 Sep. 2025
Aguayo, a Martinez resident, was busted in 2023 with more than four pounds of cocaine, bagged up for sale, inside his home.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 29 Aug. 2025
The state Senate remains comfortably in GOP hands, but her win busted their supermajority.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2025
In a 3-2-2 — third pitch to the second batter in the second inning — players and umpires will bust a move.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
Hussein, of Richmond Hill, was busted in November 2023.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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
In other words, Harvey — on the fifth carry of his NFL career — busted a longer run than any Broncos running back had the entirety of last season.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 8 Sep. 2025
Anyway, Agnes gets busted and shoved in a cell to be a snack for later.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
Nieves was busted after a GPS device planted in a 2012 Corvette by WFTV reporter Jeff Deal revealed the car was rolling within hours of being dropped off.
—Josh Max, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Miami had busted a tight game open in the third quarter to lead 21-7 on CharMar Brown’s 5-yard touchdown run.
—Miami Herald, 1 Sep. 2025
Aguayo, a Martinez resident, was busted in 2023 with more than four pounds of cocaine, bagged up for sale, inside his home.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 29 Aug. 2025
The state Senate remains comfortably in GOP hands, but her win busted their supermajority.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2025
In a 3-2-2 — third pitch to the second batter in the second inning — players and umpires will bust a move.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
Hussein, of Richmond Hill, was busted in November 2023.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busted
Adjective
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In my experience, redeeming a broken industry requires regaining consumer trust by delivering empathy, transparency, and a process that works for clients, especially in a space that has historically worked against the interests of consumers.—
Brandon Aversano,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Across the eastern Baltic states (an area pertaining to modern-day Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania), there are even more examples of broken tools in Stone Age burials.—
Sarah Durn,
Popular Science,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Miami’s cartophile Argentine defender Tomas Aviles saw his second yellow of the night after pulling back Toklomati and was dismissed in the 79th minute, leaving Messi and his teammates down a man for the final stages.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
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Fletcher, who was considered a strong contender for a state Senate seat in March 2023 when Figueroa filed her complaint, spoke publicly Friday about the allegations one month after a judge dismissed it.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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When faced with Cherry going berserk, what can Laura do but visit Cherry’s mother and learn that Cherry nearly killed her dad and ruined an ex-boyfriend’s wedding by filling his cake with raw pig parts?—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Our family has been ruined by Denise's lies of promising to end a year-long affair.—
Stephanie Wenger,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Cal Fire revoked the fireworks licenses for companies linked to the Esparto compound after their investigation concluded that Chee, Devastating’s owner, and Cutright, on behalf of BlackStar Fireworks, broke California fireworks laws.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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Bell recalls watching his parents perform in a production of Good News, laughing with his brother as a ukulele broke over his father’s head on stage.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Mesa smacked his first career MLB home run — a three-run blast 394 feet to right field — to provide the highlight of the night for the Marlins, who watched the Nationals circle the bases for most of the game.—
Steve Gorten,
Miami Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
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Continue reading … CROSSING THE LINE – Ravens' Lamar Jackson retaliates against fan after being smacked in helmet.—
,
FOXNews.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Bennett Lembke, a 34-year-old Caldwell resident, was arrested following a traffic stop in Thurston County, Washington, after Boise police identified him as the suspect and issued a warrant, the agency said in a news release Thursday evening.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
12 Sep. 2025
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Fort Worth police arrested him on suspicion of two offenses.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Evergreen High School is located about 20 miles from Columbine High School, the site of an infamous 1999 mass shooting that killed 12 students and a teacher.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
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Conservative commentator Will Cain observed a moment of silence on his Fox News show after a gunman shot and killed Charlie Kirk on Wednesday.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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If clinical trials continue to confirm these results, this could be a major shift in orthopedic surgery, especially for complex fractures (like shattered bones from accidents).—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Israeli special forces, ambulances and rescue workers rushed to the attack site where bloodstained pavements were littered with shattered glass from bus windows damaged in the shooting.—
Billy Stockwell,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Busted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busted. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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