1
as in blows
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
delivered a bust to the boxer's chops
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in disasters
something that has failed
the first movie was a hit, but the sequel was an unexpected bust
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in arrests
slang
the act of taking or holding under one's control by authority of law
those lowlifes were nabbed for drug dealing in a massive bust last month
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in sprees
a bout of prolonged or excessive drinking
a bunch of underage kids having a beer bust while the parents were away for the weekend
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in reduces
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 bankrupts
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 disrupts
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 hits
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 seizes
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 wears
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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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of busts
Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 20 May 2026
Six of the five-star signees became starters in Tuscaloosa, but the class also had several busts.
—Manny Navarro, New York Times, 15 May 2026
In fossil fuel extraction zones — the Permian Basin in Texas, the Bakken fields of North Dakota, oil regions across the Middle East — lights flicker violently in sync with drilling booms and busts, bearing little relation to broader economic trends.
—Bree Shirvell, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2026
The busts happened almost one month after another controversial car meet-up in Queens.
—Lisa Rozner, CBS News, 10 May 2026
Inside, more than 240 antiques and artworks included in the sale—neoclassical busts, paintings, vintage furnishings, and ritual objects—animate its roughly 2,500 square feet.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 5 May 2026
Veiled sculptures and busts grew in popularity and fascination during this time period.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 4 May 2026
The Kings drafted Pervis Ellison, who is widely regarded as one of the biggest busts in NBA history.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 3 May 2026
Along the way, there have been fast times, big doping busts and fierce corporate competition for the fastest humans in history.
—Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 26 Apr. 2026
Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Suddenly, Jamie busts through the house to Claire’s (Caitriona Balfe) surgical room and gently places Amy on the table.
—Lincee Ray, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Mar. 2026
Bianca busts them despite Luc’s best efforts.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2025
This is the kind of guy who kicks down a door and busts somebody’s kidney with a crowbar.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2025
Rather than rushing the decision, Jere heads into the office to a shockingly chummy Steven (Sean Kaufman) and Denise (Isabella Briggs), who busts his chops about the wedding’s yacht formal dress code.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Amanda Rollins busts a move to the theme song below.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2025
Bad Bunny busts records for fun.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
Noun
Two crack cocaine busts in Roxbury Boston Police arrested two people for allegedly selling crack cocaine on Washington Street in Roxbury Monday night.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 20 May 2026
Six of the five-star signees became starters in Tuscaloosa, but the class also had several busts.
—Manny Navarro, New York Times, 15 May 2026
In fossil fuel extraction zones — the Permian Basin in Texas, the Bakken fields of North Dakota, oil regions across the Middle East — lights flicker violently in sync with drilling booms and busts, bearing little relation to broader economic trends.
—Bree Shirvell, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2026
The busts happened almost one month after another controversial car meet-up in Queens.
—Lisa Rozner, CBS News, 10 May 2026
Inside, more than 240 antiques and artworks included in the sale—neoclassical busts, paintings, vintage furnishings, and ritual objects—animate its roughly 2,500 square feet.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 5 May 2026
Veiled sculptures and busts grew in popularity and fascination during this time period.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 4 May 2026
The Kings drafted Pervis Ellison, who is widely regarded as one of the biggest busts in NBA history.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 3 May 2026
Along the way, there have been fast times, big doping busts and fierce corporate competition for the fastest humans in history.
—Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
Who doesn’t get fired up when the coach busts a move, right?
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Suddenly, Jamie busts through the house to Claire’s (Caitriona Balfe) surgical room and gently places Amy on the table.
—Lincee Ray, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Mar. 2026
Bianca busts them despite Luc’s best efforts.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2025
This is the kind of guy who kicks down a door and busts somebody’s kidney with a crowbar.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2025
Rather than rushing the decision, Jere heads into the office to a shockingly chummy Steven (Sean Kaufman) and Denise (Isabella Briggs), who busts his chops about the wedding’s yacht formal dress code.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Amanda Rollins busts a move to the theme song below.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2025
Bad Bunny busts records for fun.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busts
Noun
-
The system, called WhaleSpotter, scans the bay around the clock for whale blows and heat signatures up to 2 nautical miles away, alerting mariners to slow down or reroute when whales are nearby.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 May 2026
-
While the killing dealt one of the biggest blows to ISIS’s global network in years, disrupting operations in northeastern Nigeria, the terror group's top leader, Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, remains at large as Africa becomes the movement's global epicenter.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Mining disasters are common in China, where rapid industrialization came with intense resource exploitation, poor working conditions and a weak regulatory framework.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 May 2026
-
Mining disasters have been common although authorities had implemented measures to improve safety over the past years.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
23 May 2026
Noun
-
The Serbian president has faced international scrutiny for his hard-line tactics against the demonstrators in the last year, including arbitrary arrests and use of excessive force.—
Jovana Gec,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2026
-
The Monterey County Sheriff's Office said in a press release that the arrests were part of a series of investigations into a group of people who coordinate to rent and steal construction equipment from local businesses.—
Kassia Bonesteel,
CBS News,
23 May 2026
Noun
-
This is also the kind of transit that inspires spontaneous wellness kicks, organization sprees or maybe even a standing desk purchase.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
-
Sam knows the shame Hally has suffered from his father’s drunken sprees.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The system enables closed-loop recycling, which extends material life cycles and reduces cotton emissions and pollution.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Footwear News,
14 May 2026
-
Oatmeal's beta-glucan fiber helps curb hunger, supports weight loss, and reduces harmful visceral fat.—
Colleen Doherty,
Verywell Health,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The 2020s have been a decade of compounding American institutional failure — a pandemic, political rupture, an affordability crisis, student loan servicers treated as adversaries, a healthcare system that bankrupts the sick, and a growing sense that the system is not working as advertised.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Going to bed and waking at wildly different times disrupts circadian rhythm even when total hours look adequate on paper.—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
19 May 2026
-
This cycle disrupts weather patterns globally, including in Chicago.—
David Yeomans,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
But Ohtani entered Wednesday with four doubles and 10 hits total in five games against the Angels and Padres.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
21 May 2026
-
After the Sabres were eliminated in the second round of the NHL playoffs with an overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Monday, Tuch and the Sabres have until July 1 to agree on a new contract before the 30-year-old winger hits the open market.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Busts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busts. Accessed 26 May. 2026.
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