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 drunks
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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of busts
Matthew Coller, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025
Leaving the three representatives, Quent, and even Demerzel absolutely shaken to their core, Dusk visits the hall of holographic busts of Cleons’ past.
—Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Mercier has been obsessing over sculptures and busts for the last 15 years.
—Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025
The video appears to show a long, multi-engine speedboat traveling at sea when a bright flash of light busts over the craft.
—Aamer Madhani, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
Muss was 76 then and had endured his share of South Florida busts and booms.
—Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2025
Tennessee’s Heritage Protection Act already protects historic monuments, memorials, busts, nameplates, artwork and flags from removal or renaming, without first passing steep hurdles.
—Vivian Jones, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
Out go the white busts, hunting boots and the envoys tasked with managing affairs on behalf of the empire.
—Lovia Gyarkye, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2025
Last year, officials in Paraguay confiscated more than 10 tons of cocaine worth nearly $500 million, seized from sugar and bananas in two South American drug busts.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025
Sara Netzley, EW.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Amanda Rollins busts a move to the theme song below.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2025
Noun
Reeve was able to rebuild a championship-level contender around Collier, an MVP contender this season, and a group of veteran players who aren’t likely to someday have busts next to Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles, Seimone Augustus and Lindsay Whalen.
—Matthew Coller, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025
Leaving the three representatives, Quent, and even Demerzel absolutely shaken to their core, Dusk visits the hall of holographic busts of Cleons’ past.
—Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Mercier has been obsessing over sculptures and busts for the last 15 years.
—Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025
The video appears to show a long, multi-engine speedboat traveling at sea when a bright flash of light busts over the craft.
—Aamer Madhani, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
Muss was 76 then and had endured his share of South Florida busts and booms.
—Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2025
Tennessee’s Heritage Protection Act already protects historic monuments, memorials, busts, nameplates, artwork and flags from removal or renaming, without first passing steep hurdles.
—Vivian Jones, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
Out go the white busts, hunting boots and the envoys tasked with managing affairs on behalf of the empire.
—Lovia Gyarkye, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2025
Last year, officials in Paraguay confiscated more than 10 tons of cocaine worth nearly $500 million, seized from sugar and bananas in two South American drug busts.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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
Amanda Rollins busts a move to the theme song below.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busts
Noun
-
The blows come from front, back, and the demonstrator doesn’t seem to hold back even.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Frazier, though, was relentless, seeking a way inside Ali’s reach, driving blows into Ali’s ribs but moving too fast to get caught by the night-ender Ali had planned.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Last year alone, disasters costing $11 billion hit Florida, according to data from the National Centers for Environmental Information, with a total cost between $300 billion and $450 billion from 1980 to 2024.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
-
At the walkthrough, County Board Chair Marcelia Nicholson implored the federal government to recognize the importance of funding projects that move the needle toward renewable energy and away from worsening climate disasters across the country.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The co-founder of the Alliance for Respect and Education for Immigrants, or AIRE, asserted the community should be aware the National Guard is not actively participating in the arrests.—
Juan Cordoba,
Arkansas Online,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Police still have not confirmed a motive for the shooting and have not made any arrests.—
Bay Area News Group,
Mercury News,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Unlike the closed-coupe Chiron, which cocoons you from its inner workings, the Mistral delivers a raw mechanical sound bath, tempered only by a pop-in wind deflector (fixed in examples for North America)—just aft of the seats—that reduces cabin turbulence and shields air-flow.—
Basem Wasef,
Robb Report,
20 Sep. 2025
-
This ongoing improvement reduces the organization’s dependency on manual inputs from customers, account managers and sales teams, creating a more autonomous and data-driven process.—
Andre Claudio,
Sourcing Journal,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Fall fatigue is often linked to the decrease in sunlight, which disrupts your body’s internal clock (circadian rhythm) and can lower serotonin levels, a key mood-regulating hormone.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Creating a hostile environment that disrupts the event or puts others at risk.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Capped at 50 members, the jury evaluates every new vehicle, technology and feature that hits the market annually.—
Mark Phelan,
USA Today,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Many of the answers to that question won’t be popular, but governments are aware of the need to address the issue before crisis hits.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
When Day succumbs to his wounds, Dusk seizes the vacuum, claiming Hari Seldon’s psychohistory crystal.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
-
By the time Megan seizes control of the reins at the film’s close, the abrupt denouement feels jarringly disconnected rather than organic to the storytelling.—
Michael Rechtshaffen,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But sometimes her faith wears thin.—
ProPublica,
ProPublica,
13 Sep. 2025
-
This type of nonsense from [in-laws] is what wears on you over the years.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Busts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busts. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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