busted

[ buhs-tid ]

adjective

1. broken, fractured, or seriously damaged:

   a busted leg.

2. no longer working or operating:

   a busted radio.

3. penniless or bankrupt; broke:

   busted businesses that can’t pay their bills.

4. failed:

   I never talk about my busted marriages.

5. in trouble; caught doing something bad or wrong:

   I know that’s a lie—you are so busted!

busted

/ ˈbʌstəd /

adjective

1. informal.
   caught out doing something wrong and therefore in trouble

   you are so busted

Word History and Origins

Origin of busted¹

First recorded in 1835–40; bust ²( def ) + -ed ²( def )

Example Sentences

In Houston, the heroes now arrive with plumbing toolsAbbott’s actions are aimed at a serious need, as many residents and business owners contend with busted pipes.

From Washington Post

The arrival of The Shot has transformed the grim pop-up clinics of the pandemic into gratitude factories — reassembly lines where Americans could begin to put back together their busted psyches.

From Washington Post

Those dealing with a busted Joy-Con can seek a repair through Nintendo, but for anyone else in need of a spare set, this deal should lessen the blow compared to buying directly from the company.

From Ars Technica

The busted system leads to flooding, sinkholes and toxic and bacteria-laden material flowing into the region’s coastal waters.

From Voice of San Diego

The city’s busted stormwater system leads to flooding, sinkholes and toxic and bacteria-laden material flowing into the region’s coastal waters.

From Voice of San Diego

South Korean police busted up one such scheme in 2011, which was said to have netted millions.

From The Daily Beast

Earlier in the year, TMZ alleged, citing a police report, that a hotel room spat between the two left Nicki with a busted lip.

From The Daily Beast

Ex-hippie Billy Hayes was busted for smuggling hash and thrown in a terrifying Turkish prison.

From The Daily Beast

Busted is not the only journalism-inspired Hollywood project in various stages of production.

From The Daily Beast

Weeks before he was abducted, alleged members of a kidnapping network tied to ISIS were busted in London.

From The Daily Beast

Each of them was chuck full of that dubious sort of pride that has busted up more than one love-fiesta.

From Project Gutenberg

I am being busted here by party named Hutchinson.70 Seems good.

From Project Gutenberg

And there was nice split-bottom chairs, and perfectly sound, too—not bagged down in the middle and busted, like an old basket.

From Project Gutenberg

Some of the boys around here have been telling me that you were all busted up about that girl you married.

From Project Gutenberg

There isn't a one of them in the whole world that's worth getting busted up over.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• collapsed
• cracked
• crumbled
• crushed
• damaged
• defective
• demolished
• destroyed
• fractured
• fragmented
• injured
• mangled
• mutilated
• ruptured
• severed
• shattered
• smashed
• splintered