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

Forever it will live as instant happiness, a bad-mood buster: Alysa Liu’s climactic, wildly charismatic free skate at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 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

With the late start followed by too many commercials, clock-stopping play reviews and injuries, this game was shaping up to be a deadline buster.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 7, 2024

Photograph by Nicholas H. Shepherd in 1846 or 1847. buster play in American history.

From "Lincoln's Last Days: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever" by Bill O'Reilly