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
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Recent Examples of busted
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
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
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
The mess has led to the rise of former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, whose longtime top advisor just pleaded guilty to fraud after being busted in a scheme to steal funds from one of Becerra’s campaign accounts that was dormant.
—Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
Gulotta said that just on Tuesday two teens were busted subway surfing on the Williamsburg, with three more busted in Bensonhurst for riding on the back of an F train.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 27 May 2026
But the Silverhawks busted open a 24-24 tie and captured the final two points to secure the 26-24 win, and take a 2-0 lead in the match.
—Bill Kemp, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 May 2026
Two failed crops means they are completely busted.
—Diaa Hadid, NPR, 16 May 2026
Adjective
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
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
Verb
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
The mess has led to the rise of former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, whose longtime top advisor just pleaded guilty to fraud after being busted in a scheme to steal funds from one of Becerra’s campaign accounts that was dormant.
—Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
Gulotta said that just on Tuesday two teens were busted subway surfing on the Williamsburg, with three more busted in Bensonhurst for riding on the back of an F train.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 27 May 2026
But the Silverhawks busted open a 24-24 tie and captured the final two points to secure the 26-24 win, and take a 2-0 lead in the match.
—Bill Kemp, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 May 2026
Two failed crops means they are completely busted.
—Diaa Hadid, NPR, 16 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busted
Adjective
-
Lemieux left Draper with a fractured jaw, broken cheekbone and a broken nose.—
Dan Robson,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
-
The formula has almond, macadamia, and olive oils to moisturize, plus hydrolyzed keratin to support broken strands.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
Glamour,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Royce Lewis’ production at the plate since being demoted to Triple-A for a reset has drawn all kinds of attention.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
3 June 2026
-
After Juventus were demoted to Serie B in 2006 following the Calciopoli scandal, Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Alessandro Del Piero, Pavel Nedved and David Trezeguet stayed.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
2 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
-
Major ash-producing eruptions have repeatedly disrupted life across the region and can affect areas far beyond the immediate danger zone.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
9 June 2026
-
The department said current emergency notification systems rely on cellular devices, radio signals, electrical connectivity and power, all of which can be disrupted by heavy smoke, power outages or damage to communication infrastructure during an emergency.—
Reeti Malhotra,
Sacbee.com,
9 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
-
Baltimore Police say Lunn was arrested less than a week later, after a person who saw a Metro Crime Stoppers flyer on the news called in a tip.—
CBS Baltimore Staff,
CBS News,
7 June 2026
-
Alvarez, his brother and his mother were arrested later that year.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
Three people were killed and 20 more people were attacked by bears across at least nine prefectures between April and June 2, according to public broadcaster NHK.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
-
Alabama's relatively new nitrogen gas execution method could inflict a cruel amount of pain and suffering on a death row inmate who says that he'd rather be killed by a firing squad, a federal appeals court has ruled.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
Adjective
-
The early bones were too shattered to identify.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
28 May 2026
-
In 1987, members of the national media praised Minnesotans for their joyous and generally family-friendly celebration of the Twins’ first World Series title, free of the shattered windows, tear gas and burning cars.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Busted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busted. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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