Synonyms of breakthrough

breakthrough

noun

ˈbrāk-ˌthrü 

as in improvement

an instance of notable progress in the development of knowledge, technology, or skill

Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin was one of medicine's great breakthroughs, for penicillin became the first antibiotic to successfully combat bacterial infections in humans

Synonyms & Similar Words

• improvement
• advance
• advancement
• enhancement
• development
• innovation
• discovery
• refinement
• evolution
• increase
• upturn
• upswing
• revival
• amelioration
• strengthening
• maturation
• enlightenment
• growth
• betterment
• find
• renaissance
• education
• boost
• expansion
• quantum leap
• uplift
• windfall
• gestation
• ripening
• elaboration
• civilization
• melioration
• upgrade
• perfection
• heightening
• edification
• uptrend
• renascence
• invention

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• setback
• breakdown
• collapse
• crash
• reduction
• impediment
• hindrance
• decrease
• failing
• decline
• deterioration
• stumbling block
• worsening
• lapse
• weakening
• decay
• degeneration
• sinking
• impairment
• descent
• drawback
• shortcoming
• slowing
• lessening
• decadence
• downgrade
• detriment
• glitch
• declension
• diminishment
• disablement
• flagging
• languishment
• ebbing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of breakthrough

Given room to experiment, a group with this much know-how could surely muster some breakthroughs. — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Cyrus then offered a little history lesson of his own, recalling a time when he was known simply by his surname before his 1992 breakthrough hit. — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026

Many in Spain have asked if Morocco's government could have done more to prevent the frontier breakthrough. — ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026

Much of the film relies on the way her eyes light up at a new research breakthrough, or widen in shock at an unexpected discovery. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2026