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 drunks
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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Recent Examples of busts
Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Mercier has been obsessing over sculptures and busts for the last 15 years.
—Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025
The video appears to show a long, multi-engine speedboat traveling at sea when a bright flash of light busts over the craft.
—Aamer Madhani, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
Muss was 76 then and had endured his share of South Florida busts and booms.
—Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2025
Tennessee’s Heritage Protection Act already protects historic monuments, memorials, busts, nameplates, artwork and flags from removal or renaming, without first passing steep hurdles.
—Vivian Jones, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
Out go the white busts, hunting boots and the envoys tasked with managing affairs on behalf of the empire.
—Lovia Gyarkye, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2025
Last year, officials in Paraguay confiscated more than 10 tons of cocaine worth nearly $500 million, seized from sugar and bananas in two South American drug busts.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025
Fishermen, who are on the water as much as possible, must catch changes immediately to adapt to nature’s unpredictable booms and busts.
—Calista Oetama, Sacbee.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Sara Netzley, EW.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Amanda Rollins busts a move to the theme song below.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2025
Noun
Leaving the three representatives, Quent, and even Demerzel absolutely shaken to their core, Dusk visits the hall of holographic busts of Cleons’ past.
—Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Mercier has been obsessing over sculptures and busts for the last 15 years.
—Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025
The video appears to show a long, multi-engine speedboat traveling at sea when a bright flash of light busts over the craft.
—Aamer Madhani, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
Muss was 76 then and had endured his share of South Florida busts and booms.
—Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2025
Tennessee’s Heritage Protection Act already protects historic monuments, memorials, busts, nameplates, artwork and flags from removal or renaming, without first passing steep hurdles.
—Vivian Jones, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
Out go the white busts, hunting boots and the envoys tasked with managing affairs on behalf of the empire.
—Lovia Gyarkye, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2025
Last year, officials in Paraguay confiscated more than 10 tons of cocaine worth nearly $500 million, seized from sugar and bananas in two South American drug busts.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025
Fishermen, who are on the water as much as possible, must catch changes immediately to adapt to nature’s unpredictable booms and busts.
—Calista Oetama, Sacbee.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busts
Noun
-
Rodgers took four sacks and three other hits, including multiple heavy blows.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Last March, Mariah The Scientist allegedly came to blows with Young Thug’s former lover, Cleopatra Dues, at an Atlanta lounge.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
On Tuesday, 85 scientists released a 459-page rebuttal to the DOE report, highlighting a large body of scientific literature pointing to how climate change can exacerbate droughts, floods, crop failures, and other disasters.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Greengrass viewed the story of The Lost Bus through a similar lens, following a micro, primal cinematic story of survival that was ultimately about what these disasters mean on a macro level.—
Tomris Laffly,
Time,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Troops are not authorized to make arrests, but can inform police of a crime.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The arrests also raised alarm in Seoul, further complicating tense US-South Korea relations over investments agreed to in their trade deal, the Financial Times reported.—
Brendan Ruberry,
semafor.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This not only reinforces clarity, but also reduces the reliance on employees having to scribble notes word for word to decode later.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
But prorating three years of player profits down to 12 months, as UEFA’s rule does, reduces the immediate efficacy of successful trading in the market, the very strategy that poorer clubs increasingly rely on to climb the ladder.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Incomplete or inconsistent data disrupts workflows and triggers irrelevant follow-ups.—
Al Sefati,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
And there’s the impact of climate change itself, which disrupts seasonal temperature change routines.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Lightning hits the United States approximately 25 million times annually.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Lightning hits the United States approximately 25 million times annually.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Suddenly, the Thursday Murder Club seizes an opportunity and leaps from the cold case realm into a very hot murder investigation.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
-
During a physical confrontation, Matheo forces Saskia to retreat, and Sylvie seizes the opportunity to grab Saskia’s gun.—
Time,
Time,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
First, Temi Otedola wears Christopher John Rogers to her legal wedding ceremony in Monaco.—
Essence,
Essence,
8 Sep. 2025
-
In the picture, Duggar holds her son, who wears a gray onesie and stares into the camera.—
Hannah Sacks,
People.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Busts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busts. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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