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
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of busted
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
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
Heather Abbott, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026
Caught in this scenario is his sport that still needs him, busted parts and all, but would love nothing more than for the focus to be on the great players who are playing its most famous tournament.
—Mac Engel
april 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
The trucking industry in general has been struggling to bounce back for years after experiencing an unprecedented boom, then bust, through the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
So there’s no use in dwelling on the details, and there’s nothing like one-way airfare to bust your life open anyway.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 9 Apr. 2026
Rooted in a combustible mix of left-wing populism and petro-state largesse, the movement secured loyalty through social programs funded by an oil boom that has long since turned to bust.
—Boris Muñoz, Time, 3 Apr. 2026
So the pig pulled out two old warrants and busted him on them.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Here are a couple of myths the experts busted.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Then, during Hurricane Helene in September 2024, the box finally busted open.
—Natalia V. Osipova, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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
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
Verb
By 1986 the party was over, The Police were busted.
—Heather Abbott, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026
Caught in this scenario is his sport that still needs him, busted parts and all, but would love nothing more than for the focus to be on the great players who are playing its most famous tournament.
—Mac Engel
april 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
The trucking industry in general has been struggling to bounce back for years after experiencing an unprecedented boom, then bust, through the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
So there’s no use in dwelling on the details, and there’s nothing like one-way airfare to bust your life open anyway.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 9 Apr. 2026
Rooted in a combustible mix of left-wing populism and petro-state largesse, the movement secured loyalty through social programs funded by an oil boom that has long since turned to bust.
—Boris Muñoz, Time, 3 Apr. 2026
So the pig pulled out two old warrants and busted him on them.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Here are a couple of myths the experts busted.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Then, during Hurricane Helene in September 2024, the box finally busted open.
—Natalia V. Osipova, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busted
Adjective
-
According to Wolcott Animal Control, the dog displayed no obvious signs of trauma such as being hit by car, broken bones, gun shot wounds or other external injuries.—
Kellie Love,
Hartford Courant,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Luckily, most spring leafy greens can withstand a broken petiole or two and recover nicely.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This was controversial to the public, though, with many feeling that Pluto had been demoted in a dishonorable sense, unjustly kicked out of the club of astronomical objects that people actually care about.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Pavel Dorofeyev, Vegas’ leading scorer in the regular season, has yet to record a point in the series and was demoted down the lineup by Tortorella on Friday.—
Jesse Granger,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In other words, atrocious starts have ruined the Sox’s season before anyone had a chance to get excited.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Was so excited to make these and they were ruined by your poor recipe like many others!—
Christopher Kostow,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The United Nations Development Programme reports that higher energy prices, disrupted food systems, and economic slowdowns triggered by the war could push up to thirty-two million people globally into poverty.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Disasters threaten treatment The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration works with states to ensure that access to opioid use disorder medication isn't disrupted, Health and Human Services spokesperson Emily Hilliard said.—
Andrew Jones,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Here's a look at the pitch that ultimately knocked Jasson Domínguez out of the game.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The girl reportedly freed herself and knocked on a nearby neighbor's door, where she was brought inside to safety.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In a letter to senators earlier this year, then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that between January and November of last year, 261 DACA recipients were arrested and 86 were removed from the country.—
Ximena Bustillo,
NPR,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Three people were arrested after shots were fired at officers attempting to pull a vehicle over in the Brighton Park neighborhood, Chicago police said.—
Deanese Williams-Harris,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The assault killed at least seventeen people, including a twelve-year-old boy, wounded dozens, and destroyed buildings.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Berry was taken from a Fort Lauderdale bowling alley, killed and dumped in a Davie canal.—
Rafael Olmeda,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Aerial footage showed the sedan parked next to the center divider, with at least one shattered window.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Mullett says her injuries included a broken back, a broken left leg, a shattered pelvis and head trauma.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Busted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busted. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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