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
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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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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
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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
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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
Article continues below The 2023 book that this series is based on centered around NASA's barrier-busting 1978 class of astronauts, which included Sally Ride.
—
Jeff Spry, Space.com, 29 Mar. 2026
The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is busting budgets across the state.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 26 Mar. 2026
Bracket-busting upsets, Cinderella stories, OT buzzer beaters – March Madness is here!
—Jenna Vinson, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
Agents were busting down doors without warrants, and federal prosecutors were being pressured to investigate Good’s partner’s participation in Twin Cities ICE-watch groups.
—Daniel Brook, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
However, the dropping of 5,000-poud bunker-busting bombs on the shores of Iran to blow up entrenched mine and missile sites will make a big difference.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
These days just about everyone is bothered by the budget busting costs of gas and groceries.
—David Wade, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
After busting down his door and ransacking his home, armed officers found neither drugs nor any signs of a kidnapping.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2026
Still, the convergence of budget-busting forces is unlikely to bring the rate of inflation anywhere near its peak of more than 9% in the summer of 2022, Schipper added.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Jeff Spry, Space.com, 29 Mar. 2026
The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is busting budgets across the state.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 26 Mar. 2026
Bracket-busting upsets, Cinderella stories, OT buzzer beaters – March Madness is here!
—Jenna Vinson, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
Agents were busting down doors without warrants, and federal prosecutors were being pressured to investigate Good’s partner’s participation in Twin Cities ICE-watch groups.
—Daniel Brook, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
However, the dropping of 5,000-poud bunker-busting bombs on the shores of Iran to blow up entrenched mine and missile sites will make a big difference.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
These days just about everyone is bothered by the budget busting costs of gas and groceries.
—David Wade, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
After busting down his door and ransacking his home, armed officers found neither drugs nor any signs of a kidnapping.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2026
Still, the convergence of budget-busting forces is unlikely to bring the rate of inflation anywhere near its peak of more than 9% in the summer of 2022, Schipper added.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busting
Verb
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One bill focuses on reducing construction costs by updating building codes.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
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While these methods remain effective, excessive tilling can break down soil aggregates into smaller particles, reducing soil health and increasing erosion risk.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But the question of how to get landlords to deliver this housing without bankrupting their buildings matters just as much.—
Michael Powell,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
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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
Verb
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Gangs control significant supply routes, disrupting access to medicine and equipment.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
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The cyberattack affected Stryker’s internal Microsoft software system, disrupting the company’s order processing, manufacturing and shipping.—
William Akoto,
The Conversation,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Gerhardt Konig hoped Thursday to persuade a Hawaiian jury that hitting his wife repeatedly with a rock was self-defense.—
April 2,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
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The film also was shown at a number of other festivals before hitting the awards circuit as the Palestinian entry for this year’s Academy Awards.—
Zach Dennis,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Federal officials reinstated the 1998 order in February after arresting her.—
Sophie Austin,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
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However, just before the ceremony was set to begin, two officials from the county's sheriff's office halted the wedding by arresting Armstrong.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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An unknown assailant shoots up the Vances' house during a Shabbat meal, before killing himself with a cyanide cigarette.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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The measure passed, 363–117, killing the death penalty in France.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Senior officials have discussed promoting Dhillon to one of the top department roles, while demoting Woodward, the sources added.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
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Absent a lawsuit, which could be lengthy, Johnson’s options for actually removing Pettigrew could be trickier than merely demoting Brewer, however.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Accused of ruining baseball with their big-spending ways the past two years, the noise has only gotten louder as a labor showdown looms.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
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To figure out its mechanism, Julius’s team had to somehow extract it from cells without ruining the very properties the researchers were trying to understand.—
Jacek Krywko,
Scientific American,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Busting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busting. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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