A bust of Aristotle stands on a pedestal in the entryway.
Source: tatoeba (950923)
Bust
/ˈbʌst/
Synonyms for "bust" (461 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (93)
abaseabasementadoapprehendapprehensionarcharrestarrestationarrestmentbacchanalbacchanaliabacchanalianbackfirebad timesbagbangbankruptbankruptcybarrowbat
Show 62 more words
be ruinedbecome insolventbenderbingeblastblowblow outblow upbombboobboobsboobyboombootboozebosombottoming outbouncebouncing checkboundary stoneboutboxbranniganbrassbreachbreakbreak inbreak to harnessbreastbreastsbrisketbumbumpburstbusiness cyclebusiness fluctuationsbustlecairncancapturecarousalcarousecarvingcashiercasting downcelebrationcenotaphcheckchestchipchopclamorclapclashcloutcollapsecollarcolumncompotationcooling offcrackcrash
Adjective(1 words)
Strong matches (138)
crisiscromlechcropcrosscrumpcuffcupcyclolithdebasedebasementdebauchdeconsecratedefrockdegradationdegradedegradingdementdemeritdemotedemotion
Show 108 more words
deplumedeplumingdeposedepressiondeprivedetaindethronedetonatedisbardischargediscrowndisemploydisenthronedisgradedisgradingdismissdisplacedisplumedisplumingdolldollydolmendomesticatedowngradedowngradingdownturndrinking boutdrum outdrumheaddrunkdrunken carousalduddugdull thuddummyeconomic cycleeconomic expansioneconomic growtheconomic stagnationescapadeevil dayexcommunicateexfoliateexpanding economyexpansionexpelexplodefailfailurefantoccinifigurefigureheadfigurinefirefissurefizzleflapflat failureflingflopfloperooflunkflunk outflurryfoldfold upfootstonefracturefrostfulminatefurloughfurorefussgentlegingerbread mangive the axgive the gatego bankruptgo into receivershipgo offgo to potgo to ruingo to the dogsgo undergo upgravegravestonegrowthguzzlehard timeshasslehaymakerheadstoneheavy weatherhigh growth ratehoarstonehousebreakhubbubhumblehumblinghurly-burlyimpoverishinscriptioninsolvencyinsufficient fundsjagkickkick upstairs
Verb(3 words)
Related words (230)
kited checkknockknockerknockerslarklay figurelay offlemonlet golet offlet outliquidateloserlourlowlowermake a pinchmake redundantmamamamelon
Show 188 more words
mamelonationmammary glandmammillamammillationman of strawmanikinmannequinmarionettemarkermarket expansionmausoleummegalithmementomemorialmemorial archmemorial columnmemorial statuememorial stonemenhirmodelmonolithmonumentmoundnabnecrologynenesnettingnippleobeliskobituaryorgyoustoverdraftoverdrawn accountoverthrowpappapillapartypastepauperpauperizepeakpeakingpensionpension offpickpick uppigeon breastpillarpinchplaqueploypluckpokeportrait bustpotationpotherprizeprosperitypub-crawlpullpull inpunchpuppetpurgepyramidrainy dayrandanrandyrapread out ofreceivershiprecessionrecoveryreducereductionreleasereliquaryremembranceremoveremove from officereplacereportrepresentationretirerevelribbonrostral columnruinrun inrupturesacksad timesscalescarecrowsculpturescuttleseizeseizureseparate forciblyset offshaftshootshrineshut downsinkslamslapslatslowdownslumpsmacksnapsnowmansoaksocietysocksousespanksplatsplitspreestatuarystatuestatuettestelastonestormy weatherstripstrip of officestrip of rankstripping of rankstupasuperannuatesurplussuspendswapsymposiumtablettametaptearteattestimonialthoraxthwacktimetittitstittiestittyto-dotombtombstonetoottopetotal losstouch offtrophytumultturkeyturmoilturn offturn outudderunchurchuncrownunfrockunsaddleunseatunthroneuproarupturnwash outwashoutwassailwax figurewaxworkwhackwhamwhapwhirlwhirlpoolwhirlwindwhompwhopwingdingwood carving
Adjective(3 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: abase, abasement, ado, apprehend, apprehension.
- Sentence evidence is available for bust, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, wordnet, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "bust".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "bust"
Keep "bust" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "bust" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "bust", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "bust" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
30 entriesShowing 16 of 30 words.
More specific
15 entriesCollocations
12 entriesbronze bustbust a gutbust a movebust a mythbust measurementbust out laughingbust sizebust the door openbust throughdrug bustlife-size bustmarble bust
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
2 entriessimilar
5 entriesTranslations
9 translations across 6 languages.
Dutch
2 entries- barsten verb (alteration of )
- breken verb (alteration of )
French
1 entries- éclater verb (alteration of )
German
1 entries- bersten verb (alteration of )
Hungarian
2 entries- kipukkad verb (alteration of )
- kipukkaszt verb (alteration of )
Italian
2 entries- far scoppiare verb (alteration of )
- scoppiare verb (alteration of )
Spanish
1 entries- reventar verb (alteration of )
Sample sentences
29 total sentences available.
Grishkin is nice: her Russian eye is underlined for emphasis; uncorseted, her friendly bust gives promise of pneumatic bliss.
Source: tatoeba (1773010)
The company went bust, owing millions of dollars in unpaid wages and unfilled orders.
Source: tatoeba (3069409)
A lot of small businesses have gone bust in the last twelve months.
Source: tatoeba (3291581)
Showing 4 of 29 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "bust"?
Closest matches include abase, abasement, ado, apprehend, apprehension.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "bust"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.