1
as in reducing
to bring to a lower grade or rank
the commander threatened to bust her for failing to salute
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bankrupting
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 disrupting
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 hitting
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 arresting
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 killing
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 busting
One way to make the most of its smell-busting capabilities is to throw a few slices of lemon in the dishwasher before running a cycle.
—
Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 10 Feb. 2026
Walker, a fourth-year player out of Michigan State University, ran for 135 juking, sliding, shuffling, lung-busting yards against the New England Patriots on Sunday night and put himself among the greats of the game by being voted the MVP of Super Bowl LX.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
And many of them were side-stepping and bobbing along to a set by DJ Mace, who was also busting moves nonstop, even when the cameras weren't on him.
—Pien Huang, NPR, 6 Feb. 2026
She's also credited with busting two former finance directors in Northern Kentucky with embezzlement, LINK nky reported.
—Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 31 Jan. 2026
Despite facing many of the same challenges, Illinois has not responded, playing defense as governments face budget-busting pension debts and long-term obligations.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Asian chip giants also had expectation-busting results.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2026
Simon ultimately stages a jailbreak, busting Trevor out of the top-secret desert prison and flying them both away to safety.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
Sleeping in Doesn’t Mean Your Teen Is Lazy Experts are united in myth-busting the trope of the lazy teenager who won’t get out of bed on the weekend.
—Hannah Silverman, Parents, 23 Jan. 2026
Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 10 Feb. 2026
Walker, a fourth-year player out of Michigan State University, ran for 135 juking, sliding, shuffling, lung-busting yards against the New England Patriots on Sunday night and put himself among the greats of the game by being voted the MVP of Super Bowl LX.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
And many of them were side-stepping and bobbing along to a set by DJ Mace, who was also busting moves nonstop, even when the cameras weren't on him.
—Pien Huang, NPR, 6 Feb. 2026
She's also credited with busting two former finance directors in Northern Kentucky with embezzlement, LINK nky reported.
—Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 31 Jan. 2026
Despite facing many of the same challenges, Illinois has not responded, playing defense as governments face budget-busting pension debts and long-term obligations.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Asian chip giants also had expectation-busting results.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2026
Simon ultimately stages a jailbreak, busting Trevor out of the top-secret desert prison and flying them both away to safety.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
Sleeping in Doesn’t Mean Your Teen Is Lazy Experts are united in myth-busting the trope of the lazy teenager who won’t get out of bed on the weekend.
—Hannah Silverman, Parents, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busting
Verb
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The system responded within milliseconds, fast enough to support real-time reactions such as pulling away from harmful contact or reducing applied force during interaction.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 Feb. 2026
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Republicans argued the bill would accomplish little in the way of reducing rates and would demonize utility executives.—
Christine Condon,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The indictment, unsealed in a federal courthouse in New York on Thursday, accuses Patrick James and Edward James of bankrupting First Brands and fraudulently obtaining billions of dollars behind the backs of the company's lenders and financing partners.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
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The government dissolved Aum as a tax-exempt religious organization, effectively bankrupting it, and began to scrutinize other new religions, including the Unification Church.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While Andreessen saw software disrupting industries, Morgan Stanley sees AI disrupting labor itself.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
13 Feb. 2026
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Want to know more about how AI is disrupting Hollywood?—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, bitcoin has dropped 50% since hitting a record high above $126,000 in October.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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The car collided with the bicyclist before continuing another block and hitting the bakery section of a 99 Ranch Market location in the Westwood neighborhood.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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To be sure, arresting undocumented immigrants who have committed violent crimes is a worthy goal.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
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The Iranian regime, in addition to arresting protesters, has started targeting anyone who has attempted to help them.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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On Tuesday morning, Russian planes dropped seven powerful glide bombs on Sloviansk, in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, killing an 11-year-old girl and her mother, according to regional chief Vadym Filashkin.—
EMMA BURROWS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
11 Feb. 2026
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Prosecutors say Brian Walton of Los Angeles was a stranger to Claudia Guevara, but he’s accused of killing the woman, then 23.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Biden opted to make South Carolina the Democrats’ first-in-the-nation primary state, advancing Nevada and Michigan in the schedule while dropping Iowa and demoting New Hampshire.—
Rick Pearson,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
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Trump’s efforts to reset the narrative include demoting Gregory Bovino from the Border Patrol’s commander of at-large operations overseeing ICE embeds.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The mist dissipates around a room instead of spewing out like a wet stream, which keeps Alpert worry-free about ruining her wooden bed frame.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
6 Feb. 2026
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In fact, for some items, a standard cold wash can be ruining.—
Ashley Chalmers,
The Spruce,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Busting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busting. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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