bouts

noun

plural of bout
1
as in tournaments
a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize undoubtedly the team's best wrestler, he hasn't lost a bout yet

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in seizures
a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder she's currently suffering from a bout of the flu

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bouts While referee Herb Dean has faced recent scrutiny for other bouts, this stoppage was widely regarded as clean and timely. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 12 July 2026 The resulting illness, cyclosporiasis, causes bouts of diarrhea that, if left untreated, can wreak havoc on the digestive system for a month. — Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 11 July 2026 Though cyclosporiasis can cause severe dehydration because of its association with prolonged bouts of diarrhea and nausea, it is not considered a life-threatening illness. — Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 10 July 2026 Balancing pregnancy, her children, and a packed work schedule paired with severe bouts of nausea has made adhering to a strict schedule complex for the artist, who is used to being on the go. — Meagan Jordan, VIBE.com, 10 July 2026 His chaotic style had him in position to win both bouts, but Gaethje was taking too much damage. — Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 6 July 2026 Sarah Breeden, deputy governor of the Bank of England, said agentic AI could amplify volatility during bouts of market stress. — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 3 July 2026 That’s because a parasite called Cyclospora, which can contaminate raw produce and causes ferocious and long-lasting bouts of diarrheal illness, is making people sick across several states. — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 3 July 2026 Outside of acting, Bates, who turns 78 on June 28, 2026, has opened up about her health issues, including two bouts of cancer and her chronic lymphatic disease, lymphedema. — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 28 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bouts
  1. tournaments
  2. seizures
  3. events
  4. attacks
  5. games
  6. cases
  7. competitions
  8. spells
Noun
  • There are also more tournaments when the semi-finals are played on the same day — the 1996 men’s Euros, for example.
    — Michael Cox, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • France is just about the favorite today given its superior form this summer, but Spain has beaten Les Bleus on the last two occasions at knockout tournaments so will feel confident heading into the tie.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
Definition of tournaments
Noun
  • Allen scored the Emmy nomination for outstanding guest actress in a drama series for her role as Roxie Hamler, a terminally ill cancer patient who arrives at the emergency room after breaking her leg and suffering from seizures.
    — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2026
  • Those arguments largely resonated with judge Stephen Lau, who said that six or seven days’ notice to move all of Williams’ belongings was reasonable under the Fourth Amendment, which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures.
    — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of seizures
Noun
  • The House of the Dragon Scorecard is an accounting of the events of this week’s episode, in which points are awarded to characters on a scale of 0 to 10.
    — Brian Grubb, Vulture, 6 July 2026
  • From royal events to sporting matches to gliding down ski slopes as kids on vacation, rarely did the public see one without the other.
    — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Definition of events
Noun
  • However, the continuation of attacks between the US and Iran could pose challenges to China’s economy.
    — Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • The response has been hampered by a funding gap, attacks on health centers, and an ongoing conflict in eastern Congo, as well as mistrust among local communities.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
Definition of attacks
Noun
  • Miles became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 400 points, 100 rebounds and 100 assists — doing it in 22 games.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • Given that the Danes and Austria went all the way to penalties in the first of them, before the Dutch beat England in 90 minutes, there was only a two-hour difference between when the games ended.
    — Michael Cox, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of games
Noun
  • From 2017 to 2025, Tokyo and Osaka family courts issued return orders in 70% of cases at the first instance and 63% on appeal – both above the international average of 59% – a spokesperson said.
    — Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 12 July 2026
  • Just across the state line, Lucas County, Ohio, reported 306 cases.
    — Mike Stobbe, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
Definition of cases
Noun
  • Corona Centennial, which doesn’t usually perform well in passing competitions (the Huskies like to let their running game set up the pass), started the morning 4-0 and didn’t lose until its final game.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
  • For many teams, however, time was limited by players arriving late from club competitions, creating a delicate balance between adapting sufficiently while still reaching the tournament physically and mentally fresh.
    — Alan McCall, New York Times, 11 July 2026
Definition of competitions
Noun
  • Tubbs’s mother, a tender-hearted woman given to long spells of depression, had a soft spot for strays.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026
  • The 1995 Chicago heat wave is the most notorious and deadly of the city's hot spells, and in fact the deadliest weather event in the city's history.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Definition of spells

Browse Nearby Words

boutonnieres
bouts
bovine
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Cite this Entry

“Bouts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bouts. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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