Synonyms of bust

bust 1 of 3

noun

1

as in blow

a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument

delivered a bust to the boxer's chops

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blow
• slap
• hit
• punch
• whack
• knock
• thump
• swipe
• smack
• stroke
• pound
• thud
• bang
• poke
• lick
• spank
• beat
• slam
• hook
• clip
• kick
• crack
• clap
• chop
• cuff
• belt
• smash
• plump
• sock
• switch
• hack
• lash
• bat
• pick
• slug
• swat
• knee
• rap
• bop
• bash
• pelt
• box
• welt
• wham
• stripe
• fillip
• buffet
• biff
• stinger
• clout
• swing
• haymaker
• dab
• licking
• wallop
• pounding
• hand
• whop
• thwack
• beating
• douse
• left
• whap
• right
• larrup
• counter
• counterblow
• body blow
• sucker punch
• whip
• hammering
• roundhouse
• shiver
• whipping
• knockout
• counterstroke
• knockdown
• cruncher
• rabbit punch
• uppercut
• thrashing
• KO
• one-two
• pummeling
• battering
• flogging
• drubbing
• counterpunch
• sidewinder
• pasting
• pummelling
• walloping
• cudgelling
• clobbering
• bastinado
• bludgeoning
• right-hander
• bastinade
• cudgeling
• kayo
• lambasting

2

as in disaster

something that has failed

the first movie was a hit, but the sequel was an unexpected bust

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disaster
• failure
• catastrophe
• bomb
• disappointment
• flop
• loser
• washout
• fiasco
• mess
• debacle
• miss
• lemon
• shipwreck
• fizzle
• dud
• frost
• turkey
• clunker
• débâcle
• has-been
• bummer
• clinker
• dog
• botch
• hash
• shambles
• also-ran
• near miss
• nonevent
• muddle
• nonstarter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• success
• hit
• blockbuster
• smash
• winner
• phenomenon
• corker
• crackerjack
• crackajack
• dandy
• jim-dandy

3

as in arrest

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

• arrest
• raid
• arrestment
• collar
• apprehension
• pinch
• seizure
• capture
• imprisonment
• restraint
• house arrest
• detention
• entrapment
• incarceration
• confinement
• captivity
• hold
• remand
• rearrest
• enchainment
• immurement

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discharge
• release
• liberation
• emancipation

4

as in spree

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

• spree
• drunk
• binge
• bender
• carouse
• carousal
• toot
• jamboree
• wassail
• blowout
• revel
• keg party
• drunkenness
• orgy
• kegger
• revelry
• jag
• bacchanalia
• inebriation
• intoxication
• inebriety
• tipsiness
• bibbery
• bibulousness

bust

2 of 3

verb

1

as in to reduce

to bring to a lower grade or rank

the commander threatened to bust her for failing to salute

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reduce
• demote
• sack
• downgrade
• dismiss
• degrade
• break
• can
• fire
• disrate
• downsize
• lay off
• lower
• humiliate
• humble
• demean
• cashier
• debase
• abase

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• raise
• promote
• advance
• hire
• elevate

2

as in to bankrupt

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

• bankrupt
• ruin
• break
• reduce
• impoverish
• wipe out
• clean (out)
• pauperize
• beggar
• straiten

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• enrich
• richen

3

as in to disrupt

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

• disrupt
• break
• fracture
• fragment
• ruin
• reduce
• destroy
• disintegrate
• break up
• shatter
• smash
• split
• crush
• burst
• crack
• dismember
• rive
• explode
• blast
• powder
• grind
• wreck
• pop
• detonate
• chip
• blow up
• pulverize
• shiver
• implode
• atomize
• splinter
• sliver

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• patch
• fix
• repair
• rebuild
• heal
• reconstruct
• mend
• renovate
• doctor
• recondition

4

as in to hit

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

• hit
• smack
• slap
• knock
• punch
• bang
• slam
• clap
• whack
• strike
• crack
• pound
• clip
• bat
• kick
• swipe
• box
• bash
• nail
• clock
• push
• tap
• thump
• shove
• hammer
• slug
• belt
• lick
• tag
• rap
• swat
• sock
• bop
• bonk
• poke
• chop
• clout
• bump
• bob
• zap
• whale
• clobber
• smite
• flick
• bludgeon
• paste
• stab
• jab
• slog
• wallop
• stroke
• thwack
• biff
• butt
• rough
• beat
• cuff
• hang one on
• knee
• bung
• pummel
• maul
• slash
• lace
• dump
• pepper
• stamp
• pelt
• batter
• deck
• fell
• buffet
• drub
• whip
• cream
• lambast
• lash
• mangle
• lambaste
• jostle
• scuff
• brain
• floor
• pommel
• club
• bunt
• skull
• cane
• spear
• bean
• knock down
• prod
• flail
• conk
• level
• switch
• bowl (down or over)
• sucker punch
• flog
• sap
• thrash
• cudgel
• sledgehammer
• sledge
• rabbit-punch

5

as in to arrest

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

• arrest
• seize
• grab
• apprehend
• restrain
• run in
• detain
• jail
• pinch
• pull in
• nick
• capture
• nail
• nab
• snatch
• collar
• pick up
• commit
• trap
• catch
• hook
• snare
• incarcerate
• get
• land
• imprison
• confine
• snap (up)
• hold
• bag
• grapple
• bind
• handcuff
• lock (up)
• shackle
• jug
• intern
• trammel
• remand
• immure
• fetter
• manacle
• rearrest
• enchain

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discharge
• release
• loose
• loosen
• free
• spring
• liberate
• emancipate
• unbind
• unchain

6

as in to wear

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

• wear
• kill
• exhaust
• tire
• drain
• break
• weary
• waste
• wear out
• knock out
• harass
• burn out
• wash out
• fatigue
• fag
• tucker (out)
• outwear
• wear to a frazzle
• weaken
• frazzle
• do up
• do in
• debilitate
• sap
• enfeeble
• enervate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• strengthen
• activate
• energize
• rest
• relax
• rejuvenate
• invigorate
• unwind
• vitalize

bust

3 of 3

adjective

variants or busted

as in bankrupt

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bankrupt
• insolvent
• broke
• penniless
• needy
• bankrupted
• ruined
• impoverished
• poor
• destitute
• down-and-out
• penurious
• beggarly
• deprived
• impecunious
• indigent
• famished
• needful
• disadvantaged
• skint
• pinched
• beggared
• hard up
• threadbare
• pauperized
• dispossessed
• reduced
• poverty-stricken
• depressed
• dirt-poor
• underprivileged
• distressed
• necessitous
• short
• unaffluent
• tapped out
• possessionless
• straitened
• hardscrabble
• hand-to-mouth
• poorish
• low
• cash-strapped

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• prosperous
• comfortable
• fat
• flush
• wealthy
• rich
• opulent
• affluent
• moneyed
• monied
• well-to-do
• fat-cat
• silk-stocking
• well-off
• well-heeled
• deep-pocketed

Examples of bust in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The simple additions of a candelabra and a bust wearing a lacy eye mask set a mysterious tone on the bar cart. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2024

Marble columns surround the room, which features a row of Roman busts and ornate mosaic flooring. —EW.com, 22 Oct. 2024

Verb

State troopers used a rope tied to a pickup truck and busted it open, DeSantis said. —Mike Schneider, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2024

To worrying about his mother’s safety in witness protection and always having the Feds trying to bust him, not to mention battling the Russians and drug dealer Mecca, who was Monet’s old flame and Zeke’s father. —Ronda Racha Penrice, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Oct. 2024

Adjective

The state was in the midst of a speculative land frenzy that was always threatening to go bust. —Alexander Sammon, Harper's Magazine, 16 Oct. 2023

The first of three busts on our list from the incredibly bust-y 2015 draft. —Evan Grant, Dallas News, 28 June 2023