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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Dowdle busted loose for a first down with 40 seconds to play after Young decoyed putting him in pass protection, and those 19 yards put the Panthers in position to kick a field goal after they’d won the coin flip and maneuvered to get the wind at the end.
—Luke Decock, Charlotte Observer, 2 Nov. 2025
Jones fielded a Cairo Santos kick from the 2-yard line, found a hole and busted through the Bears’ coverage team.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025
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
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
Basketball aside, the style game was a competition in itself — and the analyst once busted the longtime Laker on his.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Dowdle busted loose for a first down with 40 seconds to play after Young decoyed putting him in pass protection, and those 19 yards put the Panthers in position to kick a field goal after they’d won the coin flip and maneuvered to get the wind at the end.
—Luke Decock, Charlotte Observer, 2 Nov. 2025
Jones fielded a Cairo Santos kick from the 2-yard line, found a hole and busted through the Bears’ coverage team.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busted
Adjective
-
And then there’s the wreckage of a broken heart and being left to mend it in an era where technology has plunged dating into overdrive.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Her dad, Mark, 54, commented with praying, broken heart and crying emojis.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Sanders demoted offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur to quarterbacks coach and stripped the former NFL head coach of play-calling duties.—
Andrew McCarty,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
-
He is simply demoted in sexiness without fanfare.—
Choire Sicha,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
However her past experiences haven't ruined the actress' trips back home.—
Ralphie Aversa,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
That’s why his mistress threw in with Frank to intimidate Dale into a land deal that would have ruined any chance of Chutto’s family ever getting their land back.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The outage stems from a lapse in federal funding during the shutdown that began at the end of September, which temporarily disrupted FLAG access and paused the processing of employer applications.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Of 763 water systems on the island, 641 were disrupted.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The campaign touted 3 million doors knocked and 90,000 volunteers.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The Lancers remained patient, chipping away until taking a 17-16 lead after three straight OLP errors, including Prior and Charlotte Wickstrand colliding on a ball, which knocked Wickstrand out for the set.—
Tim Meehan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Also on Wednesday, a daycare employee was arrested outside of her workplace in Chicago.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
That’s when he was arrested at a Motel 6 outside Orlando, jailed and charged with grand theft for failing to return a rental car in Broward County.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Tens of thousands of people have been killed throughout the conflict.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The recent floods in central Vietnam killed at least 13 people, inundated over 116,000 houses and 5,000 hectares of crops, according to the government’s disaster agency, reported by Reuters.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 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 11 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share