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
It's believed those containers are in tunnels so far below ground, America's bunker busting bombs may not be able to reach them.
—
Cecilia Vega, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026
If workers organize to push back on lower or unpaid wages, the stage can be set for more repressive measures like union busting.
—Sarah Dadush, Footwear News, 14 Apr. 2026
Los Angeles officials are worried that taxpayers could be on the hook for budget-busting costs to support the 2028 Olympic Games, if the profit promised by LA28 doesn’t materialize.
—Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026
Here’s hoping that Nitehawk’s union-busting management learns from Alamo’s fatal self-own, signs a mutually respectful contract with its workers, and continues to provide a blessedly phone-free theatrical experience.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2026
Refusing to abide by aspects of the oppressive and budget-busting Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is as good a place to start as any.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 9 Apr. 2026
Everyone loves an astronaut, especially during NASA's Artemis 2 mission and record-busting lunar flyby that just occurred on Monday, April 6.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 9 Apr. 2026
Mother was still in the ambulance with members of the MDA team, still at risk postpartum, as the Iron Dome was busting missiles overhead.
—Eric MacK, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Bracket-busting upsets, Cinderella stories, OT buzzer beaters – March Madness is here!
—Jenna Vinson, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
Cecilia Vega, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026
If workers organize to push back on lower or unpaid wages, the stage can be set for more repressive measures like union busting.
—Sarah Dadush, Footwear News, 14 Apr. 2026
Los Angeles officials are worried that taxpayers could be on the hook for budget-busting costs to support the 2028 Olympic Games, if the profit promised by LA28 doesn’t materialize.
—Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026
Here’s hoping that Nitehawk’s union-busting management learns from Alamo’s fatal self-own, signs a mutually respectful contract with its workers, and continues to provide a blessedly phone-free theatrical experience.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2026
Refusing to abide by aspects of the oppressive and budget-busting Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is as good a place to start as any.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 9 Apr. 2026
Everyone loves an astronaut, especially during NASA's Artemis 2 mission and record-busting lunar flyby that just occurred on Monday, April 6.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 9 Apr. 2026
Mother was still in the ambulance with members of the MDA team, still at risk postpartum, as the Iron Dome was busting missiles overhead.
—Eric MacK, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Bracket-busting upsets, Cinderella stories, OT buzzer beaters – March Madness is here!
—Jenna Vinson, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busting
Verb
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The station initially bridged the sudden budget gap last year by reaching out to donors directly and reducing costs to bring down overhead.—
Savannah Sicurella,
AJC.com,
11 Apr. 2026
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The ship suffered substantial damage, and the Reagan administration retaliated by damaging or sinking three Iranian warships and three oil platforms, drastically reducing Tehran’s ability to engage in the gulf.—
Dalia Abdelwahab,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Analyses show the experiment succeeded at expanding access and controlling costs without bankrupting health systems or pharmaceutical firms.—
Michael Rose,
STAT,
3 Apr. 2026
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But the question of how to get landlords to deliver this housing without bankrupting their buildings matters just as much.—
Michael Powell,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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While disrupting the business of an American multinational company may seem a pallid response to the destruction of an Iranian primary school where more than a hundred children were killed, such asymmetric attacks in the physical and digital realms have been a feature of this conflict.—
Sue Halpern,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
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Treasury has issued sanctions on more than 1,000 targets since 2025 under the current maximum pressure campaign, the official said, aimed at disrupting Iran’s oil trade and financial networks.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Giants ace Logan Webb hitting the Dodgers’ Dalton Rushing with a pitch, as well as Rushing’s subsequent hard slide into shortstop Willy Adames, pale in comparison to the clashes between San Francisco and Los Angeles in the past.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
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But the big ticket moment comes in the morning, when coffee is delivered to you in bed and the tent canopy is drawn to reveal the sun hitting the looming red rocks of the canyon.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The video shows Timothy Brown's arrest last week in Brooklyn, in which the arresting officers can be seen repeatedly punching him, and shoving him to the ground.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
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The raid left Charlotte’s Latin American population reeling but ICE agents kept up the pace statewide after the Border Patrol left, arresting an average of about 20 people per day in December, January and February.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In some cases, the frost is severe enough to end the growing season and is then referred to as a 'killing frost'.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Apr. 2026
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Mack was sentenced to 10 years in prison for killing her mother, while Schaefer, who admitted fatally beating von Wiese-Mack but claimed self defense, received an 18-year prison term.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Senior officials have discussed promoting Dhillon to one of the top department roles, while demoting Woodward, the sources added.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
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Absent a lawsuit, which could be lengthy, Johnson’s options for actually removing Pettigrew could be trickier than merely demoting Brewer, however.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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These tenacious insects discreetly land on your skin, leaving sudden, itchy, and painful bites that can swell and turn red, ruining a perfectly pleasant outdoor evening.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
18 Apr. 2026
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While the couple was able to laugh it off in the moment, the majority of comments on TikTok were negative, with people accusing Zach of being an attention-seeker and ruining the wedding.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Busting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busting. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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