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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of busts
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2026
That means comfortable, breathable materials with proper fits and cuts for all body types (there's even a section for bigger busts on the website).
—
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
24 June 2026
Greenspan was appointed Fed chairman in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan and held the position — through busts and booms — until retiring in 2006.
—
Marty Steinberg,
CNBC,
22 June 2026
The cocaine seizure follows a string of other major drug busts in Australia.
—
CBS News,
22 June 2026
California’s budget can rise and fall sharply based on gains in the stock market, which puts the state in good financial position during booms and vulnerable during busts.
—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2026
Visitors can witness year-round lighting ceremonies and stroll the half-mile Presidential Trail just below the granite busts of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.
—
Usa Today Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
Still, while many of the biggest free-agent bids have turned into busts this season, Tolle has emerged as Boston’s ace and one of the best waiver-wire adds.
—
Dalton Del Don,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
Two young men — Anthony DiPippo, then 18, and Andy Krivak, then 17, local nuisances with a handful of juvie busts for possession and public mischief — were framed for murder.
—
Paul Solotaroff,
Rolling Stone,
9 June 2026
Drew Aunkst,
CBS News,
28 June 2026
Mighty Real includes an amusing anecdote about trying to finagle an interview with New Order’s Bernard Sumner in the early ’80s when bassist Peter Hook busts in and shows you his uncut willie.
—
Alfred Soto,
Pitchfork,
24 June 2026
As Sky and Paula are processing this information, Ashley busts in from the other room, gun trained on Paula.
—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
10 June 2026
Their fortunes flourish in boom times and fall when the economy busts.
—
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
Who doesn’t get fired up when the coach busts a move, right?
—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
20 Mar. 2026
Suddenly, Jamie busts through the house to Claire’s (Caitriona Balfe) surgical room and gently places Amy on the table.
—
Lincee Ray,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Mar. 2026
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
Noun
Most of the moves didn’t pan out, as Romano and Pomeranz were released, and Manoah, Lowe and Moncada have been busts.
—
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2026
That means comfortable, breathable materials with proper fits and cuts for all body types (there's even a section for bigger busts on the website).
—
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
24 June 2026
Greenspan was appointed Fed chairman in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan and held the position — through busts and booms — until retiring in 2006.
—
Marty Steinberg,
CNBC,
22 June 2026
The cocaine seizure follows a string of other major drug busts in Australia.
—
CBS News,
22 June 2026
California’s budget can rise and fall sharply based on gains in the stock market, which puts the state in good financial position during booms and vulnerable during busts.
—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2026
Visitors can witness year-round lighting ceremonies and stroll the half-mile Presidential Trail just below the granite busts of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.
—
Usa Today Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
Still, while many of the biggest free-agent bids have turned into busts this season, Tolle has emerged as Boston’s ace and one of the best waiver-wire adds.
—
Dalton Del Don,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
Two young men — Anthony DiPippo, then 18, and Andy Krivak, then 17, local nuisances with a handful of juvie busts for possession and public mischief — were framed for murder.
—
Paul Solotaroff,
Rolling Stone,
9 June 2026
Verb
Neighbors are worried the next crash could be the one that busts through their wall or hurts someone who lives in one of the nearby homes.
—
Drew Aunkst,
CBS News,
28 June 2026
Mighty Real includes an amusing anecdote about trying to finagle an interview with New Order’s Bernard Sumner in the early ’80s when bassist Peter Hook busts in and shows you his uncut willie.
—
Alfred Soto,
Pitchfork,
24 June 2026
As Sky and Paula are processing this information, Ashley busts in from the other room, gun trained on Paula.
—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
10 June 2026
Their fortunes flourish in boom times and fall when the economy busts.
—
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
Who doesn’t get fired up when the coach busts a move, right?
—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
20 Mar. 2026
Suddenly, Jamie busts through the house to Claire’s (Caitriona Balfe) surgical room and gently places Amy on the table.
—
Lincee Ray,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busts
Noun
-
Hers is a voice that ought to have a lifetime’s staying power, bolstered by a lyrical and musical sensibility that provide everything her instrument needs to deliver a happy succession of knockout blows.
-
Despite the blows to Eurovision’s finances and viewership from the boycott, the contest is eyeing expansion, with a spinoff Eurovision Song Contest Asia due to take place in Bangkok in November.
Noun
-
Cheap financial capital has flooded into the industry, lowering the cost of protecting against disasters, but Bäte thinks the trend cannot continue forever.
-
City leaders recognize the difficulty for families and communities dealing with vacant disasters.
Noun
-
Eighty‑four percent of those who died were not wearing a life jacket, and Texas Game Wardens made 223 Boating While Intoxicated arrests last year.
-
The gunman took off and no arrests were made.
Noun
-
Singer Bradley Nowell drunk-steered his band through sordid anthems, crashing through references to classic ska and dancehall songs, shouting out Rudimentary Peni and Geto Boys, and re-setting the murder ballads and drug sprees of outlaw country in suburban California.
-
The surge in pink slips started in 2023, when companies that had gone on hiring sprees during the COVID-19 pandemic began to cut back.
Verb
-
Good posture helps prevent aches in the back, neck and shoulders, reduces joint wear and lowers the risk of sports injuries, according to Cleveland Clinic.
-
Skipping the stove and oven also reduces indoor heat, so lean on cold sandwiches, salads and no-cook meals during the worst hours.
Verb
-
The 2020s have been a decade of compounding American institutional failure — a pandemic, political rupture, an affordability crisis, student loan servicers treated as adversaries, a healthcare system that bankrupts the sick, and a growing sense that the system is not working as advertised.
Verb
-
Live Local also disrupts years of successful and careful planning by the city to promote compatible, consistent development in neighborhoods like Wynwood.
-
After all, the status quo looks safer than making a big bet on something that disrupts everything from operations to revenue.
Verb
-
Of course, the movie had to contend with the beloved Toy Story 5, and the staying power of recent horror hits like Obsession and Backrooms, so that at least explains it.
-
For a good deal on a budget gaming laptop, this 35% discount on the Asus TUF 16 hits the sweet spot.
Cite this Entry
“Busts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busts. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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