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
Alan Gionet, CBS News, 16 June 2026
California’s budget can rise and fall sharply based on gains in the stock market, which puts the state in good financial position during booms and vulnerable during busts.
—Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026
Still, while many of the biggest free-agent bids have turned into busts this season, Tolle has emerged as Boston’s ace and one of the best waiver-wire adds.
—Dalton Del Don, New York Times, 10 June 2026
Visitors can witness year-round lighting ceremonies and stroll the half-mile Presidential Trail just below the granite busts of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 10 June 2026
Two young men — Anthony DiPippo, then 18, and Andy Krivak, then 17, local nuisances with a handful of juvie busts for possession and public mischief — were framed for murder.
—Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 9 June 2026
Her busts of wealthy abolitionists and famous men, such as Lincoln and Longfellow, come across as the meat and potatoes of a commercial artistic practice, but her group sculptures are tantalizingly tricky.
—Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
For women with larger busts, some designs use internal slings and power mesh linings to give a comfortable fit.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 June 2026
There were two more railroad mini-booms, in 1881 and again in 1893, both followed by busts.
—Fortune, 2 June 2026
Erin Qualey, Vulture, 10 June 2026
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
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
Weil says Rockmount has weathered booms and busts over its eighty years of business.
—Alan Gionet, CBS News, 16 June 2026
California’s budget can rise and fall sharply based on gains in the stock market, which puts the state in good financial position during booms and vulnerable during busts.
—Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026
Still, while many of the biggest free-agent bids have turned into busts this season, Tolle has emerged as Boston’s ace and one of the best waiver-wire adds.
—Dalton Del Don, New York Times, 10 June 2026
Visitors can witness year-round lighting ceremonies and stroll the half-mile Presidential Trail just below the granite busts of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 10 June 2026
Two young men — Anthony DiPippo, then 18, and Andy Krivak, then 17, local nuisances with a handful of juvie busts for possession and public mischief — were framed for murder.
—Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 9 June 2026
Her busts of wealthy abolitionists and famous men, such as Lincoln and Longfellow, come across as the meat and potatoes of a commercial artistic practice, but her group sculptures are tantalizingly tricky.
—Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
For women with larger busts, some designs use internal slings and power mesh linings to give a comfortable fit.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 June 2026
There were two more railroad mini-booms, in 1881 and again in 1893, both followed by busts.
—Fortune, 2 June 2026
Verb
As Sky and Paula are processing this information, Ashley busts in from the other room, gun trained on Paula.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 10 June 2026
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
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
-
Feminism was anti-gerontocratic, too, striking blows against old men and their old ways.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
12 June 2026
-
The biggest blows came from Garcia and Starling Marte.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
Hanging Lake Trail in Glenwood Canyon CBS The project, led by a partnership of federal, state and local organizations, was designed to create a trail capable of withstanding future disasters while preserving the experience that has made Hanging Lake one of Colorado's most popular destinations.—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
-
And some satellites are even able to watch over humanmade disasters, such as this one that caught Blue Origin's rocket explosion from space.—
Monisha Ravisetti,
Space.com,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
As of now, no arrests have been made.—
Andrew Ramos,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
-
The demonstrations have unleashed violent confrontations between dynamite-wielding demonstrators and riot police, leading to at least 365 arrests and 37 injuries, according to authorities.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 June 2026
Noun
-
Singer Bradley Nowell drunk-steered his band through sordid anthems, crashing through references to classic ska and dancehall songs, shouting out Rudimentary Peni and Geto Boys, and re-setting the murder ballads and drug sprees of outlaw country in suburban California.—
Sadie Sartini Garner,
Pitchfork,
15 June 2026
-
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
Verb
-
This degrades your brake system’s stopping power, which reduces the overall safety of your vehicle.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
18 June 2026
-
While magnesium may support a healthy heart, there is no clear evidence that taking magnesium supplements reduces your risk of heart disease or regulates your blood pressure.—
Emmanuella Ogbonna,
Health,
18 June 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
-
Elizalde’s model at Viva disrupts the way business has been done in the past.—
Karen Idelson,
Variety,
16 June 2026
-
Papercut disrupts that, if only momentarily.—
Sheldon Pearce,
NPR,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
So sure, stuff hits the cutting room floor.—
Kate Aurthur,
Variety,
17 June 2026
-
In a crowded year for chilling debuts, director Adrian Chiarella and actors Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen impress with a fear that hits close to home.—
Jen Yamato,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Busts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busts. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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