Master confusing words with ease
Broken vs. Busted
Broken
/ˈbrəʊkən/Examples:
You've broken my chair!Everything was old and broken.There were empty and broken wine bottles everywhere.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Busted
/ˈbʌstəd/Examples:
The old television finally busted after years of use.She felt busted when her secret was revealed at the party.I accidentally busted the lock trying to open the door.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- Both broken and busted imply something is not functioning, but broken is more formal and widely accepted.
- These words are often interchangeable, but busted can imply a part that is irreparably damaged or informally describes being caught doing something wrong.
- Instead of saying My watch is busted, you can formally say My watch is broken.
- Consider broken for documents, equipment, or promises, and use busted in informal contexts like jokes or casual conversations.
- Broken can be applied to abstract concepts like a broken heart, whereas busted is less likely to be used this way.
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