BURSTS Synonyms: 109 Similar and Opposite Words

bursts 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of burst

as in explodes

to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure the turnover's crust burst when the filling expanded

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as in shatters

to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive finally burst the piñata open with one mighty swing of the bat

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as in buzzes

to be copiously supplied a young singer/dancer who seems to be bursting with energy and talent

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bursts

2 of 2

noun

plural of burst

as in flurries

a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity a sudden burst of industriousness whenever the boss appeared

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in explosions

a sudden intense expression of strong feeling a burst of anger that startled the other members on the panel

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as in eruptions

the act or an instance of exploding one burst after another could be heard in the distance

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

implosions

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of bursts

Verb

Things quickly take a terrifying turn during surgery when a scorpion tail suddenly bursts through Perry’s back, attacking one of the surgeons mid-operation. — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026 Haaland bursts our bubble almost immediately by scoring in the opening five minutes, and Burnley miss a few good first-half chances, with striker Zian Flemming particularly culpable. — Nnamdi Onyeagwara, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2026 The 60-year immigration bubble finally bursts. — FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026 Once a cushioned conduit to the other side, the casket now bursts with the wisdom of a life lived outside the box. — Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2025 Later, as the film plays, the crowd bursts intermittently into laughter, cracking up at the clown-car quality of everyone piling into the van for the first time. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2025 Sedona Sedona is another popular fall break destination for many reasons, least of all being Oak Creek Canyon, which bursts with color during the autumn months. — Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 19 Sep. 2025 The movie is a tour de force In IMAX, the format’s large screen and huge sound a perfect partner for the purple one’s charisma, which positively bursts off the screen. — Benny Har-Even, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025 Third Thursdays bring the festive Art Walk, when the district bursts with local art, live music, and technicolor vibes. — Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2025

Noun

Scientists are curious about the sun’s inner workings to better track massive bursts of energy called coronal mass ejections that can hurl toward Earth. — Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026 The engines, adapted from those used in the company’s heavy machinery, mix pressurized hydrogen gas with air and ignite it to create bursts of power. — ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026 Chinese researchers have developed a high-energy lithium-metal primary battery that combines long endurance with powerful bursts while operating at temperatures as low as -40°F (-40°C). — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 11 Aug. 2026 These sunspots produce a lot of solar flares and coronal mass ejections, which are kind of bursts and eruptions of energy from the sun's atmosphere, and at solar minimum, the sun has none of these things. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 9 Aug. 2026 With juicy bursts of fresh fruit, the result is deliciously smooth, custardy, and bright. — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2026 Those small bursts of relief last a few minutes or a few hours. — Andrea Rodriguez, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026 Solar storms are energy bursts from the sun that can contribute to strong auroral showings, several of which occurred in 2024, when the sun reached the peak of its 11-year solar cycle, marking a 500-year high in auroral activity. — Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 Both of these carry the signatures of creative openings, bursts of genius, and new ideas being generated. — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bursts

Verb

Reacher explodes into action, kicking over a table, executing a backward roll into the guy behind him while handcuffed, then redirecting that guy’s tranq gun against the other Men in Black.

— Chris Klimek, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026
That first bump hits Tony with such a rush that the soundtrack explodes with boogielicious disco.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of explodes

Verb

Continue reading … RAISING THE BAR — ICE shatters all-time mark with a jaw-dropping 51,000 arrests in July.

— , FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026
As Hogi pokes a hole in this plot and shatters the industrial love complex we’ve been sold song after song, movie after movie, the workplace version of this unhealthy relationship presents a familiar parallel.

— Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of shatters

Verb

There’s always a nervous excitement that buzzes through households in the days leading up to a new school year.

— Parents, Parents, 10 Aug. 2026
While Ramses may continue its operations for a number of months, NASA’s OSIRIS-APEX mission—the name for the extended mission of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, which sampled the asteroid Bennu—is set to swoop in after Apophis buzzes Earth.

— Andrew Jones, Scientific American, 30 July 2026

Definition of buzzes

Noun

The past 14 years have included some flurries of diplomatic contact between Iran and the West.

— Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
There is even a remote possibility for a few flurries in the highest peaks of the Sierra on Saturday and Sunday nights with temps briefly below freezing.

— Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 26 June 2026

Definition of flurries

Noun

Small explosions happen within the park every few years and generally present localized dangers.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
Earlier this summer in Germany, evacuations were ordered in record-breaking heat after a wildfire triggered explosions in a nature reserve strewn with leftover ordnance from World War II.

— John Vaillant, Time, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of explosions

Noun

Consider the latest eruptions that happened within hours of each other a few days ago, when the league quickly rescinded a technical foul assessed to Clark that would have put her at the threshold for a suspension.

— Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
Since Yellowstone’s last caldera-forming event, the region has experienced approximately 80 comparatively nonexplosive eruptions, most of which produced lava flows.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of eruptions

Verb

If the ammunition detonates after penetration, the explosion is directed away from the crew compartment, significantly improving the crew’s chances of survival.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 30 June 2026
After the pass comes to Bridges, who detonates passersby at the basket regularly, White goes straight up, though with a little more oomph than usual.

— Fred Katz, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026

Definition of detonates

Verb

For now, Paramount isn’t producing the billion-dollar box office smashes that drive millions of butts into theater seats (not to mention robust sales of novelty popcorn buckets).

— Todd Spangler, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026
The oncoming vehicle then smashes into his SUV, the footage shows.

— Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2026