1
as in reducing
to bring to a lower grade or rank
the commander threatened to bust her for failing to salute
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bankrupting
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 disrupting
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
the butterfingered husband had busted more plates than he cared to remember
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in hitting
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
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5
as in arresting
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 killing
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 busting
Turkey has a rich history of collapsing under expectation, but that could change this summer — Yildiz is the centerpiece of an exciting, dynamic, possibly history-busting young core.
—
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 12 June 2026
But while not as well known as some of its fault-busting brethren, the July 8, 1986, temblor kicked off a series of quakes that rattled Southern California for the better part of a decade.
—Shelby Grad, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
Cut to Esmerelda wearing a vinyl catsuit and busting a move on the dance floor.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 11 June 2026
The best mockumentaries satirize the conventions of everyday life to gut-busting effect.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 June 2026
Players explore an alien planet in their trusty mech in this genre-busting title that’s part exploration game and part farm sim.
—Keith Langston, Space.com, 31 May 2026
The characterful 850-year-old property is in the postcard-perfect town of Oberau, surrounded by pure air, pristine peaks, and crowd-free forest trails that inevitably propel guests towards a stress-busting nature immersion.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 May 2026
Even though the gut-busting sandwich is now a matter of civic pride because of a TV show that shot it to national acclaim, a consensus on everything else related to an Italian beef might never be reached in this lifetime.
—Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2026
Heyward played seven seasons with the Cubs and was a member of the team’s 2016 curse-busting World Series championship team.
—Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 14 May 2026
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 12 June 2026
But while not as well known as some of its fault-busting brethren, the July 8, 1986, temblor kicked off a series of quakes that rattled Southern California for the better part of a decade.
—Shelby Grad, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
Cut to Esmerelda wearing a vinyl catsuit and busting a move on the dance floor.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 11 June 2026
The best mockumentaries satirize the conventions of everyday life to gut-busting effect.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 June 2026
Players explore an alien planet in their trusty mech in this genre-busting title that’s part exploration game and part farm sim.
—Keith Langston, Space.com, 31 May 2026
The characterful 850-year-old property is in the postcard-perfect town of Oberau, surrounded by pure air, pristine peaks, and crowd-free forest trails that inevitably propel guests towards a stress-busting nature immersion.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 May 2026
Even though the gut-busting sandwich is now a matter of civic pride because of a TV show that shot it to national acclaim, a consensus on everything else related to an Italian beef might never be reached in this lifetime.
—Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2026
Heyward played seven seasons with the Cubs and was a member of the team’s 2016 curse-busting World Series championship team.
—Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 14 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busting
Verb
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Some institutions, like the University of Arizona, are intentionally lowering class sizes to improve academic performance and graduation rates, while reducing scholarship expenses and national recruitment burdens.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
20 June 2026
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Norway's smartphone ban has already yielded results, according to some studies, including increasing students' GPAs and reducing trips to mental health professionals, particularly among female students.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
20 June 2026
Verb
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Character also involves standing up to people who are bankrupting and corrupting this country.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
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Among its many distinctions, SPLC is known for bankrupting the Ku Klux Klan.—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The knock-on effect is a shortage of fuel and munitions for Russian frontline troops in southern Ukraine, further disrupting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s wartime goals.—
Gianluca Mezzofiore,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
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People attending the trial would also be prohibited from reacting, gesturing, wearing distracting clothing, or otherwise disrupting proceedings.—
Matthew Davisson,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
Verb
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Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
19 June 2026
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The purpose of any heat shield is to be sure the extreme temperatures that objects hitting Earth’s atmosphere experience don’t harm the crew or cargo inside the vehicle.—
Margaret Landis,
The Conversation,
18 June 2026
Verb
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Despite the agency's aggressive tactics to accomplish this — including arresting immigrants inside immigration courts — the quota was never met.—
Sergio Martínez-Beltrán,
NPR,
15 June 2026
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Video posted online showed police arresting a woman who had climbed atop an Amazon vehicle near MSG.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
14 June 2026
Verb
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Tom then explains the actual Trolley Problem, the philosophical debate about having to choose whether to pull a lever that will prevent a runaway trolley from killing multiple people, but will still result in the death of a single person.—
Jen Chaney,
Vulture,
17 June 2026
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But the Israeli military has yet to fully stop hostilities, killing at least four people in separate strikes Tuesday on Lebanon, according to Lebanese state media.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Psychologists and economists have spent decades demoting gratification to a sin.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2026
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Back in 2018, Molitor said demoting Sanó was one of the most difficult decisions of his career.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Historically, barrels of Madeira spent months crossing tropical oceans aboard ships, and merchants realized that the heat actually improved the wine rather than ruining it.—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
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The antics each week involved lovable Gilligan ruining a plan to get the gang rescued, but also ogling the bombshell Ginger (Tina Louise) and getting annoyed by Thurston Howell III (Jim Backus).—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Busting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busting. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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