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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of busts
Magdalena Petrova,eamon Javers, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2025
The darting adds definition—especially helpful for smaller busts—while slightly wider straps offer a supportive feel.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 25 Dec. 2025
The busts came during the opening day of what the office said will be a multi-day operation to keep shoppers and retailers safe during the busy holiday shopping season.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 16 Dec. 2025
If the disappointing-technology hype cycles that preceded large language models—cryptocurrency booms and busts, Web3 and the metaverse—felt like solutions in search of a problem, generative AI seemed to offer limitless applications.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 30 Nov. 2025
An epidemic sweeping the country’s roadways and causing human trafficking victims to vanish without a trace is being highlighted on the heels of one of the largest child-smuggling busts in United States history.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 29 Nov. 2025
Pare busts through the line for an 18-yard gain, and Jackson picks up another first down.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 22 Nov. 2025
Produced by Texas Crew Productions and Trilogy Media, the show takes viewers inside high-stakes digital busts — from a $53,000 PayPal refund scheme and a $500,000 crypto con to an Arkansas scam ring that defrauded local seniors.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 18 Nov. 2025
Land is a unique asset, at the center of booms and busts since Babylon, and will be here long after Meta or Microsoft or Google try to wriggle out of their data-center leases, should the AI buildout prove to be overdone.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 11 Nov. 2025
Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2025
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
Amanda Rollins busts a move to the theme song below.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2025
Noun
The case comes amid a flurry of similar busts regarding unauthorized Nvidia exports in recent months.
—Verb
Bianca busts them despite Luc’s best efforts.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for busts
Noun
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Coming out the second half the teams continued to trade blows, after the Rockets took a 32-30 lead Xaverian responded with a 15-5 run to end the quarter to take a 45-37 lead.—
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The Anteaters withstood an early jolt from Cal State Fullerton in their Big West Conference matchup, but came back with several blows of their own in an 86-64 win at Titan Gym.—
Noun
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The Packers had seen their season end in two of the last three postseasons in part because of special teams disasters, and Saturday night was no different.—
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Overall, the nation suffered a staggering 23 separate weather and climate disasters in 2025, each of which cost over $1 billion in damages.—
Noun
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Speaking with the Post and Courier, Dané's family issued a public plea for the responsible driver to turn themself in, as the Sheriff's Office said that no arrests have been made.—
-
Police on Friday did not announce any arrests or release any suspect information.—
Noun
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So far, federal prosecutors have convicted 62 people in connection to the scandal, which tops the list of the nation's most costly COVID-era fraud sprees.—
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Despite the designations, the gangs have continued to carry out violent killing sprees, as well as rapes and kidnappings.—
Verb
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This degradation not only reduces the usable active material but also creates side reactions that drain performance and shorten battery lifespan.—
-
At the same time, hyaluronic acid—the gold standard for hydration—locks in moisture, soothes inflammation, and reduces texture, creating a soft, plump finish.—
Verb
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The condition disrupts the production of CoQ10, a molecule essential for generating energy inside cells, leading to rapid neurological decline and loss of mobility.—
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In other words, alcohol disrupts hydration, irritates the gut, inflames blood vessels, messes with sleep, and forces your liver into metabolic overdrive.—
Verb
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In exchange for Sonis, Summit FC sent $120,000 to Louisville, a sum that could rise to $160,000 if Sonis hits certain performance conditions.—
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Keeping the Uconnect infotainment system in play is also a win for the Stellantis brand with its extremely simplistic useability, which really hits home for many.—
Verb
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The slender but powerful book takes place over the course of a week, when Ma’s plans are suddenly imperiled while Boomba seizes the chance to make up for his past mistakes and help his family.—
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In the novel, Joan Goodwin, a physics professor with a lifelong love of the stars, seizes the chance to join NASA’s first class of women astronauts and soon finds friendship, passion, and purpose among her fellow trainees.—
Cite this Entry
“Busts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busts. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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