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
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
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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
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of busts
Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
Up on the 60th floor of Circa, which is called the Legacy Club, busts of Sam Boyd, Benny Binion, Howard Hughes, Kirk Kerkorian, Jay Sarno, Steve Wynn and others greet visitors coming off the elevator.
—Will Yakowicz, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Those guys have combined for 12 MVP awards and four Cooperstown busts (with Betts and Judge guaranteed to receive their own one day).
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
Recently, examples include Mitchell Trubisky, Anthony Richardson and Trey Lance, all of whom were draft busts after starting fewer than 20 games in college.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2026
With more than $9 billion of prime sales last year, and the ultra-rich increasingly buying homes rather than just investment properties, Knight Frank reckons Dubai’s property market may now be less vulnerable to speculative booms and busts.
—Dominic Dudley, semafor.com, 14 Jan. 2026
Through two world wars, a Great Depression, and social upheaval, booms and busts, California endured.
—Sacramento Bee Staff, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Peppered throughout the village are busts and plaques bearing quotes from Cucinelli’s favorite minds, from Mahatma Gandhi to Leonardo da Vinci.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
The case comes amid a flurry of similar busts regarding unauthorized Nvidia exports in recent months.
—Magdalena Petrova,eamon Javers, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2025
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
Noun
Every team needing a quarterback and watching Darnold’s rise wonders if busts-on-the-rise like Mac Jones and Malik Willis can do something similar.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
Up on the 60th floor of Circa, which is called the Legacy Club, busts of Sam Boyd, Benny Binion, Howard Hughes, Kirk Kerkorian, Jay Sarno, Steve Wynn and others greet visitors coming off the elevator.
—Will Yakowicz, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Those guys have combined for 12 MVP awards and four Cooperstown busts (with Betts and Judge guaranteed to receive their own one day).
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
Recently, examples include Mitchell Trubisky, Anthony Richardson and Trey Lance, all of whom were draft busts after starting fewer than 20 games in college.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2026
With more than $9 billion of prime sales last year, and the ultra-rich increasingly buying homes rather than just investment properties, Knight Frank reckons Dubai’s property market may now be less vulnerable to speculative booms and busts.
—Dominic Dudley, semafor.com, 14 Jan. 2026
Through two world wars, a Great Depression, and social upheaval, booms and busts, California endured.
—Sacramento Bee Staff, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Peppered throughout the village are busts and plaques bearing quotes from Cucinelli’s favorite minds, from Mahatma Gandhi to Leonardo da Vinci.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
The case comes amid a flurry of similar busts regarding unauthorized Nvidia exports in recent months.
—Magdalena Petrova,eamon Javers, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busts
Noun
-
My father had said to me, My heart hurt more than my body—the flesh can take blows, the heart suffers them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
However, that good news comes after Johnson suffered political blows from an obstinate City Council opposition over the recent budget, on top of other losses for his progressive agenda.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
An extended shutdown could put more pressure on that fund, especially if FEMA must respond to new disasters.—
Meg Kinnard,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
-
And more extreme weather means costlier disasters for American communities, from tracking warning signs to running clean up in the aftermath.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
No arrests have been made in the recent San José case, according to the department.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Elsewhere, law enforcement leaders, civil rights advocates and other legal experts have decried how ICE agents and other federal officers have been flouting best practices when making street arrests, conducting crowd control and maintaining public safety amid mass protests.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The industry is still outrunning its early days, when investors like Blackstone went on buying sprees after the foreclosure crisis.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
13 Jan. 2026
-
So far, federal prosecutors have convicted 62 people in connection to the scandal, which tops the list of the nation's most costly COVID-era fraud sprees.—
Jonah Kaplan,
CBS News,
18 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
According to the company, this reduces inventory burdens, streamlines logistics, and shortens installation timelines.—
Dianne Plummer,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
This greatly reduces environmental concerns related to legacy waste.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
On the other hand, chronic sleep deprivation impairs attention, disrupts decision-making and alters the hormones that regulate appetite and metabolism.—
Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse,
The Conversation,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Depriving children and young adults of social contact, structure, and meaningful engagement disrupts emotional regulation, impulse control, and decision-making, causing harm that can follow them long after release.—
Gladys Carrión,
New York Daily News,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Alongside the likes of Slow Horses and Bad Sisters, Criminal Record has been one of Apple TV’s biggest UK hits.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
28 Jan. 2026
-
This hits home for us in Massachusetts, and residents should be paying attention.—
Jennifer Nassour,
Boston Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Season 2 also seizes on an obvious opportunity.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
21 Jan. 2026
-
The team successfully seizes two tons of gold and apprehends the leader of the criminal network.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Busts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busts. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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