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
Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 23 Oct. 2024
Further investigation of the restaurant led German authorities to bust a drug ring around the City of Düsseldorf.
—Bradford Betz, Fox News, 23 Oct. 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
For the first time, wellness experts from Healthy Minds will be available live on election night, November 5, to provide meditation and stress busting tips, Davidson said in an email.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 23 Oct. 2024
Further investigation of the restaurant led German authorities to bust a drug ring around the City of Düsseldorf.
—Bradford Betz, Fox News, 23 Oct. 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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But Manchin raced across town from a previous engagement to deliver the fatal blow, 50-49.Axios, Axios, 12 Dec. 2024
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The Kremlin will fight to retain influence in Syria but the loss of its client state deals another blow to Putin.Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The bill would provide $100 billion in funds for cleanup after devastating Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which rocked Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee and other Southern states, as well as other disasters.Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY, 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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Mangione appeared in court in Pennsylvania on Monday, shortly after his arrest at a McDonald's restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, following a five-day manhunt across multiple states.Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 15 Dec. 2024
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His arrest was related to allegations of obstructing the collection of evidence, the Federal Police said in a statement.Thiago Mostazo and Maycron Abade, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Management is getting more stressful Many companies have undergone rapid transformations since 2020, including dealing with mass turnover and hiring sprees, adjusting to remote and hybrid work, restructuring teams, adding responsibilities to jobs and facing budget cuts.Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024
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One-third of CPS schools are more than half empty yet the CPS board — a vassal of CTU — has increased salaries and benefits by nearly 50% since 2019, going on a 9,000-staffer hiring spree even as 37,000 more students left the system.Forrest Claypool, Chicago Tribune, 5 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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His overall demands have reduced, however, realising a less intense approach could help offset the risk of player burnout.Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
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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
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Repealing the law, which allowed schools and local governments to raise money through higher employee contributions for benefits, would bankrupt those entities, backers of Act 10 have argued.Ryan Hogg, Fortune, 3 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Sensory processing issues affect 1 in 20 people, including typically developing children, while audiovisual overstimulation can disrupt learning for all users, not just those with sensory sensitivities.Hashim Hayat, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
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Hot water strips the skin of its naturally hydrating oils and may also disrupt the skin barrier, a mix of cells and fats that form a protective outer layer on the skin.Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
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While some destination fitness programs go morning to night, the Ranch has built in down time for napping, reading, hitting the pool or enjoying sauna, hot tub and cold plunges.Larry Olmsted, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
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As the myriad plot points tangle and hit critical mass, supporting players Sarah Goldberg, Trevor White, Miriam Petche and Jay Duplass deliver gems.Carole Horst, Variety, 14 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near bust
Cite this Entry
“Bust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bust. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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