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
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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
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of busting
While one Chicago White Sox rookie, Munetaka Murakami, is busting down the door, another rookie, Sam Antonacci, is happy to get his foot in the door.
—
Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
It's believed those containers are in tunnels so far below ground, America's bunker busting bombs may not be able to reach them.
—Cecilia Vega, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026
If workers organize to push back on lower or unpaid wages, the stage can be set for more repressive measures like union busting.
—Sarah Dadush, Footwear News, 14 Apr. 2026
Los Angeles officials are worried that taxpayers could be on the hook for budget-busting costs to support the 2028 Olympic Games, if the profit promised by LA28 doesn’t materialize.
—Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026
Here’s hoping that Nitehawk’s union-busting management learns from Alamo’s fatal self-own, signs a mutually respectful contract with its workers, and continues to provide a blessedly phone-free theatrical experience.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2026
Refusing to abide by aspects of the oppressive and budget-busting Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is as good a place to start as any.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 9 Apr. 2026
Everyone loves an astronaut, especially during NASA's Artemis 2 mission and record-busting lunar flyby that just occurred on Monday, April 6.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 9 Apr. 2026
Mother was still in the ambulance with members of the MDA team, still at risk postpartum, as the Iron Dome was busting missiles overhead.
—Eric MacK, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
It's believed those containers are in tunnels so far below ground, America's bunker busting bombs may not be able to reach them.
—Cecilia Vega, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026
If workers organize to push back on lower or unpaid wages, the stage can be set for more repressive measures like union busting.
—Sarah Dadush, Footwear News, 14 Apr. 2026
Los Angeles officials are worried that taxpayers could be on the hook for budget-busting costs to support the 2028 Olympic Games, if the profit promised by LA28 doesn’t materialize.
—Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026
Here’s hoping that Nitehawk’s union-busting management learns from Alamo’s fatal self-own, signs a mutually respectful contract with its workers, and continues to provide a blessedly phone-free theatrical experience.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2026
Refusing to abide by aspects of the oppressive and budget-busting Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is as good a place to start as any.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 9 Apr. 2026
Everyone loves an astronaut, especially during NASA's Artemis 2 mission and record-busting lunar flyby that just occurred on Monday, April 6.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 9 Apr. 2026
Mother was still in the ambulance with members of the MDA team, still at risk postpartum, as the Iron Dome was busting missiles overhead.
—Eric MacK, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busting
Verb
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MacRumors thinks this could end up reducing the thickness of the iPhone’s display stack while improving brightness and minimizing power use.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
25 Apr. 2026
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The Airhart ethos is focused on reducing the cognitive drain on the pilot.—
David Szondy
April 25,
New Atlas,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Among its many distinctions, SPLC is known for bankrupting the Ku Klux Klan.—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
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The Aryan Nations case in 2000 delivered a similar outcome for the Keenans, effectively bankrupting Aryan Nations and Butler, one of the nation’s most influential hate proliferators.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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While disrupting the business of an American multinational company may seem a pallid response to the destruction of an Iranian primary school where more than a hundred children were killed, such asymmetric attacks in the physical and digital realms have been a feature of this conflict.—
Sue Halpern,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
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Treasury has issued sanctions on more than 1,000 targets since 2025 under the current maximum pressure campaign, the official said, aimed at disrupting Iran’s oil trade and financial networks.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That passion to play every moment to the hilt, along with her powerful hitting stroke, that came with being a coach’s daughter.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
30 Apr. 2026
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Horner told a false story about hitting the little girl with his van and then strangling her in a panic, according to testimony of the case’s lead investigator, Texas Ranger Job Espinoza.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The affidavit further alleges that Bell gave arresting officers the name of her older sister.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
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The Houston Police Department’s policy has barred officers from arresting or detaining someone based on immigration status since 1990.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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On Saturday, Moscow pummeled the central city of Dnipro and other areas for more than twenty hours with barrages of missiles and drones, killing at least seven people.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
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The coastal Georgia man arrested in 2018 and accused of torturing, killing and burying his two teenage children in the backyard of the family’s mobile home will spend the rest of his life behind bars after reaching a plea deal.—
Adam Van Brimmer,
AJC.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As far as Williams, the Mets aren’t considering demoting him.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
24 Apr. 2026
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Chennai buckled down Kolkata to 36-2 in the power play despite Ajinkya Rahane demoting himself down the order after the skipper struggled to give his team strong starts.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Determining how the teen died took time, and after months of additional investigation, prosecutors announced charges against D4vd that allege her murder was a premeditated attempt to keep her from ruining his music career by exposing their underage relationship.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
23 Apr. 2026
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Additionally, wet windows can accumulate condensation overnight, potentially ruining your hard work.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Busting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busting. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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