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
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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
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1
as in reduces
to bring to a lower grade or rank
the commander threatened to bust her for failing to salute
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of busts
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
There were two more railroad mini-booms, in 1881 and again in 1893, both followed by busts.
—Fortune, 2 June 2026
As anyone who wears an A- and B-cup knows, many styles are designed with large busts in mind.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 1 June 2026
The suspect has a criminal record stretching back to 2015, police sources said, including two busts for possession of a loaded firearm.
—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 26 May 2026
Booms often pass through busts before reaching financial sustainability.
—James Broughel, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
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
Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
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
Noun
Here, pastel walls contrast the travertine marble and bronze accents, while sculptural busts, mosaics, and objets d’art stand beside regal Rubelli Venezia fabrics.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
There were two more railroad mini-booms, in 1881 and again in 1893, both followed by busts.
—Fortune, 2 June 2026
As anyone who wears an A- and B-cup knows, many styles are designed with large busts in mind.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 1 June 2026
The suspect has a criminal record stretching back to 2015, police sources said, including two busts for possession of a loaded firearm.
—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 26 May 2026
Booms often pass through busts before reaching financial sustainability.
—James Broughel, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
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
Verb
Their fortunes flourish in boom times and fall when the economy busts.
—Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
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
-
From there, the two schools traded blows until intermission.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
2 June 2026
-
According to the coroner, there was evidence of nine blows to the victim’s head and neck.—
Jonathan Franzen,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
For all the negative coverage, aesthetic arguments about climbing styles, the controversies and disasters, Everest continues to be at the heart of so many dreams and ambitions — even for old hands, like Cotter.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
-
The third challenge is time pressure, especially in areas recovering from disasters.—
Cyril PETIT,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
After the club won the title last year, 201 people were injured in Paris and more than 500 arrests were made across France.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2026
-
How ‘Clean Slate’ laws work States have a legal process in which people can petition the courts to seal or expunge old arrests or convictions, depending on the seriousness of the offense and after a certain period of time.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
The surge in pink slips started in 2023, when companies that had gone on hiring sprees during the COVID-19 pandemic began to cut back.—
Lily Wright,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Though more popular for your skin, when applied to your scalp and strands, the ingredient sloughs off buildup, soothes irritation, reduces dandruff, and controls oil production.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
29 May 2026
-
It was also found that the battery uses a tabless, a double-aluminum current collector design that reduces resistance and ensures a uniform temperature distribution—and also mirrors the current design of Tesla batteries.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
28 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
-
El Niño, however, is associated with higher vertical wind shear in the Atlantic, which disrupts this process.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
1 June 2026
-
The more established the team’s reputation, the less anyone wants to be the one who disrupts it.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Carney hits the best notes at the film’s beginning and most notably at its tear-you-up end.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
-
Albert Pujols hits his 600th home run, the historic blast being a 4th-inning grand slam off Ervin Santana of the Twins in a 7-2 Angels win.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Busts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busts. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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