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 can indicate something is not functioning properly, but broken is more formal.
- Busted often carries a more colloquial or informal tone.
- Think of broken as usually more about physical states, while busted might be used in a broader sense, like being caught doing something wrong.
- If you break a vase, you might say its broken, while if youre caught doing something, you might say, Im busted.'
- When in doubt, use broken for clarity, as busted can have multiple meanings in informal contexts.
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