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• buster
  buster

  noun

  a person who breaks up something.
• Buster
  Buster

  noun

  a male given name.

buster

¹ American  

[buhs-ter] / ˈbʌs tər /

noun

Informal.

1. a person who breaks up something.

   crime busters.

2. something that is very big or unusual for its kind.

3. a loud, uproarious reveler.

4. a frolic; spree.

5. (initial capital letter) (used as a familiar term of address to a man or boy who is an object to the speaker's annoyance or anger).

   Look, Buster, you're standing in my way!

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Buster ² American  

[buhs-ter] / ˈbʌs tər /

noun

1. a male given name.

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buster British  

/ ˈbʌstə /

noun

1. (in combination) a person or thing destroying something as specified

   dambuster

2. a term of address for a boy or man

3. a person who breaks horses

4. a spree, esp a drinking bout

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Etymology

Origin of buster

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35; bust ² + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Healthcare costs typically mount at a higher rate than overall inflation, and Medigap policies can be a budget buster.

From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026

Debris “from bunker buster munitions can be seen around both sets of tunnel entrances,” Lair said in a social-media post.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

Only the US was considered to have a "bunker buster" bomb strong and large enough to destroy Fordo.

From BBC • Jun. 21, 2025

These bombers can carry the 30,000-pound GBU-57 “Massive Ordnance Penetrator” bunker buster, a weapon experts say is uniquely designed to penetrate underground nuclear facilities like Iran’s Fordow site.

From Salon • Jun. 21, 2025

He said he'd send over to the Skins Team who he wanted to send over to the Skins Team, and buster, that was me.

From "Okay for Now" by Gary D. Schmidt