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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Downtrodden ultra-nerd janitor Melvin Ferd (Mark Torgl) takes a tumble into a massive vat of nuclear waste and becomes the titular crime-busting monster (Mitch Cohen) — part Superman, part Swamp Thing, completely toxic.
—
Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 13 Sep. 2025
From amazing wings to a gut-busting musical and a brilliant Stephen King adaptation, there is a lot to see and do in the Bay Area this weekend.
—Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 11 Sep. 2025
Maybe anyone busting on a contemporary Knute Rockne on live television would always hit.
—Pete Sampson, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
However, an Ultra 3 with some wrist-busting dimensions is reportedly in the works for this year.
—Emily Forlini, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
And with Albarn’s prolific output, these young fans will be hoping that his new material sounds as fresh as his genre-busting first album.
—Peter Wilkinson, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2025
His budget-busting tax cuts can be repealed.
—William Pesek, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Interest among the affluent to travel for tariff-busting shopping sprees has spiked in recent weeks, said Erica Jackowitz, a travel advisor to wealthy clientele.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2025
But after the myth-busting and icebreakers, something changes.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 13 Sep. 2025
From amazing wings to a gut-busting musical and a brilliant Stephen King adaptation, there is a lot to see and do in the Bay Area this weekend.
—Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 11 Sep. 2025
Maybe anyone busting on a contemporary Knute Rockne on live television would always hit.
—Pete Sampson, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
However, an Ultra 3 with some wrist-busting dimensions is reportedly in the works for this year.
—Emily Forlini, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
And with Albarn’s prolific output, these young fans will be hoping that his new material sounds as fresh as his genre-busting first album.
—Peter Wilkinson, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2025
His budget-busting tax cuts can be repealed.
—William Pesek, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Interest among the affluent to travel for tariff-busting shopping sprees has spiked in recent weeks, said Erica Jackowitz, a travel advisor to wealthy clientele.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2025
But after the myth-busting and icebreakers, something changes.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busting
Verb
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The confirmation came just two days before the Fed is expected to vote on reducing its key interest rate.—
Adeola Adeosun
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
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Every action counts, whether reducing HFCs, investing in sustainable cooling, or holding governments accountable for climate commitments.—
Dianne Plummer,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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See video … WATCH TOM HOMAN – With a secure border, the US is bankrupting cartels.—
,
FOXNews.com,
4 Sep. 2025
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Yet either change could risk bankrupting the program.—
Nathaniel Weixel,
The Hill,
3 Aug. 2025
Verb
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However, the president’s criticism of mail-in ballots could risk disrupting the inroads Republicans made with voters last cycle, with the party spending millions promoting mail-in ballots ahead of the 2024 election.—
Hailey Bullis,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Sep. 2025
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The limitations placed on these researchers is disrupting NASA’s work and could stymie the careers of younger Chinese researchers who came to the US to advance their scientific work, as well as benefit the space agency through their findings, the sources said.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
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.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Sep. 2025
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Smith stretched as far as his body would allow, inadvertently hitting the splits in the process.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Climate change has reduced its size dramatically, to a ghost of its former self, but the surrounding mountains are still arresting.—
Thomas Page McBee,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Sep. 2025
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The plaintiffs later accused the department of violating the order by hitting journalists with batons and arresting them during an August protest.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The apology came less than 24 hours after an unidentified shooter opened fire at a college university killing Kirk, a media personality and author.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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Come to the table, as Republicans and Democrats, to pass solutions to the epidemic of gun violence that’s killing both of us.—
Gabby Giffords,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Spirit has been looking for ways to slash costs, including furloughing and demoting hundreds more pilots and cutting unprofitable routes.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
26 Aug. 2025
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Spirit is furloughing 270 pilots and demoting an additional 140.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Car designers love them for not ruining the lines of the door with the necessities of real life, but is the benefit from drag reduction worth the safety risk?—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
10 Sep. 2025
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And broadcasting your irritation too loudly risks ruining the atmosphere for everyone else just as much as their yelling or off-key chants.—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Busting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busting. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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