1
as in blow
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 disaster
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 arrest
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 spree
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 to reduce
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 to bankrupt
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 to disrupt
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 to hit
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 to arrest
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 to wear
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
variants
or busted
as in bankrupt
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of bust
Jasmine Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2026
More recently, Flynn criticized Councilor Sharon Durkan for suggesting last month that pulling back Council raises would lead to more corruption on the body like the recent federal bust of ex-Councilor Fernandes Anderson for a $7,000 kickback scheme.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 13 June 2026
Shelby Grad, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
Cut to Esmerelda wearing a vinyl catsuit and busting a move on the dance floor.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 11 June 2026
Phil Hay, New York Times, 21 May 2026
Makar may be part cyborg, but even the tightest machines can’t hide a busted axle.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for bust
Noun
The bust on the Oceanside Marine Corps base, home to tens of thousands of service members and families, is now in federal hands, with the suspects facing likely charges.
—Jasmine Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2026
More recently, Flynn criticized Councilor Sharon Durkan for suggesting last month that pulling back Council raises would lead to more corruption on the body like the recent federal bust of ex-Councilor Fernandes Anderson for a $7,000 kickback scheme.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 13 June 2026
Verb
But while not as well known as some of its fault-busting brethren, the July 8, 1986, temblor kicked off a series of quakes that rattled Southern California for the better part of a decade.
—Shelby Grad, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
Cut to Esmerelda wearing a vinyl catsuit and busting a move on the dance floor.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 11 June 2026
Adjective
This is, as Abdul Rehman says, boom or bust time in Fantasy Premier League land; your last chance to beat your mates or colleagues.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 21 May 2026
Makar may be part cyborg, but even the tightest machines can’t hide a busted axle.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for bust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bust
Noun
-
Officers said that Samartino quickly assessed the situation and immediately began administering back blows to the infant.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
20 June 2026
-
These were both devastating blows since the public saw them each as the face and voice of the groups, even though there were other very talented singes and songwriters in the bands.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
20 June 2026
Noun
-
Aemond is a murderer, Aegon is a rapist; if either of them ends up on the Iron Throne for good, that would be a disaster.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
-
On the dusty backroads of Radiator Springs, where Lightning McQueen and his pals live, a shower of meteors threatened to bring destruction upon the quarter-size cars in a scene that disaster movie king Roland Emmerich would endorse.—
Sandra Gonzalez,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
White was remanded following his initial arrest in March 2025, and will be arraigned at a later date.—
Katie Houlis,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
-
One of the victim’s owners tipped off authorities a day before the couple’s arrest.—
Seamus Bozeman
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
On top of doggedly tracking a serial killer whose murder spree started decades earlier, our shrewd heroine uncovers a tangled workplace conspiracy that's as sinister as her prime suspect's motives.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
-
Kenya is in the middle of a $45 billion investment spree on airports, ports, rail, and industrial zones, creating multiyear financing needs and transaction advisory fee opportunities.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
The coronavirus vaccine reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events linked to covid-19 — strokes, heart attacks, and hospitalization from heart disease — by about 40 percent, according to a new study.—
Daniel Wu,
Washington Post,
16 June 2026
-
Fox would take on $8 million in debt to pay for the Roku acquisition, and the companies expect to reduce combined expenses by $400 million.—
Scharon Harding,
ArsTechnica,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Imagine a transformative ripple effect that could create billionaires, bankrupt some of the biggest companies on the planet, and topple governments.—
Joseph Andrew,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
-
This is, of course, the real-estate game where players attempt to bankrupt opponents through the buying, renting, and trading of properties.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
And of how Iran’s preparation for this World Cup has been disrupted, this is definitely among the more minor.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
In their letter, the senators cited the approaching El Niño — a periodic Pacific warming that disrupts weather patterns and supercharges marine heat waves — as evidence the cuts are particularly ill timed.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Israeli strikes hit several towns in southern Lebanon on Saturday morning local time, killing at least five people, Lebanese state-run National News Agency reported, despite Israel and Hezbollah renewing their truce Friday.—
Caitlin Danaher,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
-
Temperatures are expected to soar on June 22 in parts of Oregon and Washington, possibly hitting 100 degrees in Portland and at least 90 degrees in Seattle.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bust. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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