1
as in explodes
to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure
the turnover's crust burst when the filling expanded
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shatters
to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive
finally burst the piñata open with one mighty swing of the bat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in flurries
a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity
a sudden burst of industriousness whenever the boss appeared
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in explosions
a sudden intense expression of strong feeling
a burst of anger that startled the other members on the panel
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in eruptions
the act or an instance of exploding
one burst after another could be heard in the distance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bursts
FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Once a cushioned conduit to the other side, the casket now bursts with the wisdom of a life lived outside the box.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2025
Later, as the film plays, the crowd bursts intermittently into laughter, cracking up at the clown-car quality of everyone piling into the van for the first time.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2025
As Antoine Semenyo chases a loose ball down the left flank, left-back Adrien Truffert bursts forward to support him inside.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Sedona Sedona is another popular fall break destination for many reasons, least of all being Oak Creek Canyon, which bursts with color during the autumn months.
—Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 19 Sep. 2025
As Alien fans know, the facehugger will impregnate its host with a Xenomorph embryo, which eventually bursts from the host's chest.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
The movie is a tour de force In IMAX, the format’s large screen and huge sound a perfect partner for the purple one’s charisma, which positively bursts off the screen.
—Benny Har-Even, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Third Thursdays bring the festive Art Walk, when the district bursts with local art, live music, and technicolor vibes.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2025
Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 1 Feb. 2026
Hulu has steadily built a library of bold, thought-provoking miniseries that have managed to entertain audiences in short bursts.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
In addition to occasional bursts of folk songs, there are outstanding new compositions by Mario Batkovic that move from a quick, nerve-jangling pulse to a full surge of mournful chords in a late sequence.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026
At Café Pasqual’s, the James Beard Award-winning eatery in the heart of downtown, every dish bursts with the vibrant flavors of organic, farm-to-table ingredients.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Jan. 2026
Creatine may help with short bursts of high-intensity exercise and symptoms of mental fatigue, but more research is needed.
—Megan Nunn, Verywell Health, 28 Jan. 2026
Alex McDowell, a local plumber, says pipe bursts and system failures spike whenever temperatures fall below freezing.
—Leondra Head, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
Habits are built through repetition under imperfect conditions, not through short bursts of maximal effort.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Lucas said Okorie’s speed and quick bursts were always there.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
The 60-year immigration bubble finally bursts.
—FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Once a cushioned conduit to the other side, the casket now bursts with the wisdom of a life lived outside the box.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2025
Later, as the film plays, the crowd bursts intermittently into laughter, cracking up at the clown-car quality of everyone piling into the van for the first time.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2025
As Antoine Semenyo chases a loose ball down the left flank, left-back Adrien Truffert bursts forward to support him inside.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Sedona Sedona is another popular fall break destination for many reasons, least of all being Oak Creek Canyon, which bursts with color during the autumn months.
—Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 19 Sep. 2025
As Alien fans know, the facehugger will impregnate its host with a Xenomorph embryo, which eventually bursts from the host's chest.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
The movie is a tour de force In IMAX, the format’s large screen and huge sound a perfect partner for the purple one’s charisma, which positively bursts off the screen.
—Benny Har-Even, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Third Thursdays bring the festive Art Walk, when the district bursts with local art, live music, and technicolor vibes.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2025
Noun
Also, some bursts showed strong circular polarization, a signal characteristic of magnetic processes.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 1 Feb. 2026
Hulu has steadily built a library of bold, thought-provoking miniseries that have managed to entertain audiences in short bursts.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
In addition to occasional bursts of folk songs, there are outstanding new compositions by Mario Batkovic that move from a quick, nerve-jangling pulse to a full surge of mournful chords in a late sequence.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026
At Café Pasqual’s, the James Beard Award-winning eatery in the heart of downtown, every dish bursts with the vibrant flavors of organic, farm-to-table ingredients.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Jan. 2026
Creatine may help with short bursts of high-intensity exercise and symptoms of mental fatigue, but more research is needed.
—Megan Nunn, Verywell Health, 28 Jan. 2026
Alex McDowell, a local plumber, says pipe bursts and system failures spike whenever temperatures fall below freezing.
—Leondra Head, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
Habits are built through repetition under imperfect conditions, not through short bursts of maximal effort.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Lucas said Okorie’s speed and quick bursts were always there.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bursts
Verb
-
The primary issue is that as such a problem grows, the number of possible solutions explodes exponentially to the extent that even quantum computers and supercomputers struggle to keep up.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Feb. 2026
-
After debuting with minimal fanfare in November 2025, the provocative Canadian drama about rival hockey players whose passion explodes into lust (and eventually love) became a word-of-mouth sensation.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
After a possible murder shatters shatters the lives of three women in a decades-long friendship, Imperfect Women kicks off into a high-octane thriller that is sure to keep us guessing until its final minute.—
Kathleen Newman-Bremang,
Refinery29,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Imperfect Women, created for television by Annie Weisman and based on Araminta Hall’s novel of the same name, examines a crime that shatters the lives of a decades-long friendship of three women.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This hotel buzzes with young style- and budget-conscious travelers.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Getty Images Of the nine players in the Rays’ batting order Opening Day 2025 against the visiting Rockies, only four remain with the club less than one month before Charlotte Sports Park buzzes with activity that signals the start of spring training.—
Tom Layberger,
Forbes.com,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Worst case scenario is that Baltimore metro receives a few flurries with up to a trace of snow.—
Steven Sosna,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Snow flurries in Jacksonville Why is Groundhog Day celebrated?—
Doris Alvarez Cea,
Florida Times-Union,
2 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Ukrainian officials said powerful explosions and secondary detonations were recorded at the site, while the extent of damage was still being assessed.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
-
But these explosions do not trigger a nuclear chain reaction.—
Geoff Brumfiel,
NPR,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Solar flares are large eruptions of electromagnetic radiation from the sun, which could last from minutes to hours, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Kilauea’s eruptions are Pele’s movements.—
Tommy Orange,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Gemma then detonates the device.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Brother Dusk detonates explosives that shatter the cryonic chamber of Cleon clones, bodies raining down in blood and glass, before plucking a single embryo from the wreckage to bait Demerzel’s deepest programming.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Mane challenges Will to a round of one-and-one and basically smashes him.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The bike then smashes into a metal barricade before coming to rest against a parked car.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bursts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bursts. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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