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

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

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

A rare "southerly buster" is known to have blown through Fairy Meadow in the moments before Cheryl Grimmer vanished.

From BBC • Nov. 20, 2023

They probably figured that Mr. Ferris was going to tell me that I’d better not try to pull any funny business in his class, no sirree, buster.

From "Okay for Now" by Gary D. Schmidt