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
Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 1 June 2026
Moore suffered a possible broken nose and busted lip, the warrant said.
—Charlotte Observer, 1 June 2026
Makar may be part cyborg, but even the tightest machines can’t hide a busted axle.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 20 May 2026
Here is the story of Eternally Yours, the first-ever busted script featured on Dead Pilots Society to subsequently make it to series.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 1 May 2026
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
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
ABC News, 12 June 2026
The 24-year-old’s burning desire, elite athleticism, and an electrifying season at Triple-A Albuquerque busted down the big-league door.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 10 June 2026
Ravenous, flesh-eating flies have busted through containment barriers and have now reemerged in the US.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 9 June 2026
Chwalińska was the symbol of a tournament busted wide open, a chaotic conflagration of all the forces of women’s tennis these days, where depth causes danger from the moment the first balls fly.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 6 June 2026
The Kennedy Center is broken, unsafe, and $busted, and has been for many years!
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026
The Kennedy Center is broken, unsafe, and $busted, and has been for many years!
—Chris Willman, Variety, 30 May 2026
Just trying to bust them around a little bit.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
LeBlanc’s homer was a two-run walk-off blast that busted a 12-12 tie.
—Gary Bedore
may 28, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026
Adjective
The components might be familiar—guitars that sound like they’re played through a busted Zenith TV at full volume, heavy acoustic strumming à la ’90s folk-grunge group Days of the New, Slocum’s fading read-out of a voice—but they’re all pulled into slightly unusual shapes.
—Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 1 June 2026
Moore suffered a possible broken nose and busted lip, the warrant said.
—Charlotte Observer, 1 June 2026
Makar may be part cyborg, but even the tightest machines can’t hide a busted axle.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 20 May 2026
Here is the story of Eternally Yours, the first-ever busted script featured on Dead Pilots Society to subsequently make it to series.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 1 May 2026
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
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
Verb
But while a cash prize might be dangled, it's often never paid — particularly if the kid carrying out the crime gets busted.
—ABC News, 12 June 2026
The 24-year-old’s burning desire, elite athleticism, and an electrifying season at Triple-A Albuquerque busted down the big-league door.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 10 June 2026
Ravenous, flesh-eating flies have busted through containment barriers and have now reemerged in the US.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 9 June 2026
Chwalińska was the symbol of a tournament busted wide open, a chaotic conflagration of all the forces of women’s tennis these days, where depth causes danger from the moment the first balls fly.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 6 June 2026
The Kennedy Center is broken, unsafe, and $busted, and has been for many years!
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026
The Kennedy Center is broken, unsafe, and $busted, and has been for many years!
—Chris Willman, Variety, 30 May 2026
Just trying to bust them around a little bit.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
LeBlanc’s homer was a two-run walk-off blast that busted a 12-12 tie.
—Gary Bedore
may 28, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busted
Adjective
-
The reason for Rivers’ reunion in Indy surrounds the loss of Daniel Jones, who suffered a torn Achilles after trying to play through a broken fibula.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
11 Dec. 2025
-
Take stock of any lost or broken items that need urgent replacement.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
In Monaco, Hulk finished 10th after the Great Reshuffle due to pit-lane-speeding penalties for other drivers, but was later demoted to 13th after being given a time penalty for causing a collision.—
Jerry Perez,
The Drive,
11 June 2026
-
Paula Conaway alleged she was harassed and ultimately demoted from her position as deputy chief for insisting on accountability for officers under her command.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
That's when the PAW Patrol has to step in to stop Humdinger before the island is ruined!—
Sari Hitchins,
Parents,
10 June 2026
-
But Wembanyama and the Spurs ended the streak and ruined the Knicks’ first home NBA Finals game since 1999.—
Brian Mahoney,
Chicago Tribune,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
And of how Iran’s preparation for this World Cup has been disrupted, this is definitely among the more minor.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
Travelers whose flights are disrupted should keep an eye out for change fee waivers and rebooking options from their airline.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Robinson responded with a forearm to Wembanyama’s neck that either knocked him to the ground or gave sufficient cover for a flop.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
11 June 2026
-
Last September, a fire at a South Korean data center knocked 647 government services offline.—
Leonard Lim,
Fortune,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Police confirmed the man had been arrested for petty larceny.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
22 Aug. 2025
-
When reached for comment by EW Thursday, a spokesperson with the LAPD confirmed receiving the call and that the suspect was arrested for charging at a police officer, but could not identify the person by name.—
Lauren Huff,
EW.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Federal investigators have arrived at Butler Memorial Airport to begin examining the plane crash that killed 12 people Sunday morning.—
Neil Nakahodo,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
-
Air Force officials did not immediately identify the eight people killed or explain why there were more people aboard than the bomber’s standard crew complement.—
Reeti Malhotra,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
Video shows the aftermath of the crash, which resulted in a shattered windshield and significant damage to the car.—
Lauren Pozen,
CBS News,
8 Dec. 2025
-
Syria still faces a number of significant challenges, from building an inclusive and non-sectarian political order after half a century of repressive rule, to restoring the rule of law and rebuilding a shattered economy.—
Hassan Hassan,
Time,
8 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Busted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busted. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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