1
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
delivered a bust to the boxer's chops
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Relevance
2
as in disaster
something that has failed
the first movie was a hit, but the sequel was an unexpected bust
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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
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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
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1
as in to reduce
to bring to a lower grade or rank
the commander threatened to bust her for failing to salute
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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variants
or busted
as in bankrupt
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of bust
Carrie Shepherd, Axios, 13 Dec. 2024
On that last one, Colorado led the nation with an average annual home price appreciation of nearly 6% over the prior 15 years, a period that included the housing bust.
—Aldo Svaldi, The Denver Post, 9 Dec. 2024
Marissa Muller, WWD, 8 Dec. 2024
President-elect Trump has promised to dismantle DEI, bust the accreditation cartel, and boost the tax on college endowments.
—Frederick Hess, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 5 Aug. 2023
In the late 1980s, the commercial real estate boom turned bust.
—Alexandra Digby, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for bust 
Noun
The results: 21% of you like No. 6 (above), which features a bust of Abraham Lincoln inside an outline of Illinois.
—Carrie Shepherd, Axios, 13 Dec. 2024
On that last one, Colorado led the nation with an average annual home price appreciation of nearly 6% over the prior 15 years, a period that included the housing bust.
—Aldo Svaldi, The Denver Post, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
Charli donned a jersey gown by creative director Anthony Vaccarello that featured sheer panels at the skirt and bust.
—Marissa Muller, WWD, 8 Dec. 2024
President-elect Trump has promised to dismantle DEI, bust the accreditation cartel, and boost the tax on college endowments.
—Frederick Hess, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
Adjective
The bra is designed to decrease bust size by about 1 inch and features smooth and nearly seamless cups with underwire for extra support and adjustable straps for a better fit.
—Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 5 Aug. 2023
In the late 1980s, the commercial real estate boom turned bust.
—Alexandra Digby, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for bust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bust
Noun
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However, Washington delivered a blow to dislodge the football and the Ravens recovered.Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic, 21 Dec. 2024
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Erin Doherty, House rejects GOP funding bill in major blow to Mike Johnson The U.S. House failed to pass a bill to extend federal funding on Thursday night — just one day before the government is set to shut down.Andrew Solender, Axios, 20 Dec. 2024
Noun
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As climate shocks get worse, insurance companies are increasingly dropping homeowners facing risks of hurricanes, wildfires and other disasters.Mira Rojanasakul, New York Times, 18 Dec. 2024
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Developing Highly Detailed Maps Geospatial mapping technology could be better leveraged in disasters.Expert Panel®, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Osceola County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the Riviera Motel in Kissimmee, Florida, over reports of a home invasion and stabbing on Dec. 22, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by ABC News.Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 26 Dec. 2024
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Bexar County, Texas officials found the body of Tomas Calavera Jr. in a closet during a welfare check, according to reports from KENS, KSAT and Crossroads Today, citing an arrest affidavit.Liam Quinn, People.com, 26 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Three men from Europe were arrested in Wethersfield on Friday in connection with an ATM skimming spree in Hartford County, state police said.Staff report, Hartford Courant, 23 Dec. 2024
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Taylor Swift has long been known for surprising her fans with presents, whether going on a holiday gift-buying spree back in 2015, or donating funds to their GoFundMe campaigns over the years.Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Surgery can benefit from real-time AI explanations and XR visualizations to reduce patient anxiety, while oncology can simplify complex treatment plans for better decision making.Alon Zuckerman, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
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Light pollution significantly reduces visibility of meteors.Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
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But Manchester United’s decision to hitch their wagon to this development almost bankrupted them again, particularly when the First World War broke out, depriving them of income for four seasons.Matt Slater, The Athletic, 5 Aug. 2024
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That, warns Boston University professor of economics Laurence Kotlikoff, would bankrupt the system even quicker, since those taxes are revenue streams keeping it afloat.Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Pearson, 28, became an effective multi-inning reliever after getting traded from Toronto (2.73 ERA in 19 appearances), and the Cubs probably won’t want to disrupt that momentum.Sahadev Sharma, The Athletic, 17 Dec. 2024
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Shiite militias from Iraq and Syria launched rockets and drones to disrupt Israel’s advanced air defense systems, but these efforts posed no significant threat to them.Amos Yadlin, Foreign Affairs, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
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But the Expos won only 52 games that season, and Sutherland hit a mere .239 with three home runs and a .289 on-base percentage in 141 games.Newsweek, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
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However, some parts of China’s economy have shown signs of a recovery, with manufacturing activity expanding for two months in a row and hitting a five-month high in November.Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 27 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near bust
Cite this Entry
“Bust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bust. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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