as in improvements
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
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Recent Examples of breakthroughs
What technology breakthroughs will underpin this forecasted dramatic improvement in the resource efficiency of artificial intelligence?
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Rob Toews,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2026
The country wants breakthroughs by 2027 and a globally competitive brain-computer interface industry by 2030.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
Now lawmakers, health systems, researchers, and private-sector leaders need to ensure patients can walk through those doors and turn medical breakthroughs into greater real-world outcomes.
—
Audrey Boone Tillman,
Fortune,
19 June 2026
Sketch one wild concept and record a playful introduction for a project, because joy fuels momentum and often invites surprising breakthroughs.
—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2026
State initiatives aimed at supporting fusion research and commercialization have encouraged investment and collaboration, helping establish an ecosystem designed to accelerate technological breakthroughs.
—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
13 June 2026
The biggest breakthroughs came during a 2023 expedition supported by a National Geographic grant awarded to Hesham Sallam.
—
Sanaa El-Sayed,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
Climate scientists warned that the influence of politics in science funding decisions could prevent important new scientific breakthroughs and set their field back years.
—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
These leaders possess the courage to make bold decisions in the face of ambiguity, often leading to significant breakthroughs that can transform entire industries.
—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes,
3 Jan. 2025
Rob Toews,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2026
The country wants breakthroughs by 2027 and a globally competitive brain-computer interface industry by 2030.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
Now lawmakers, health systems, researchers, and private-sector leaders need to ensure patients can walk through those doors and turn medical breakthroughs into greater real-world outcomes.
—
Audrey Boone Tillman,
Fortune,
19 June 2026
Sketch one wild concept and record a playful introduction for a project, because joy fuels momentum and often invites surprising breakthroughs.
—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2026
State initiatives aimed at supporting fusion research and commercialization have encouraged investment and collaboration, helping establish an ecosystem designed to accelerate technological breakthroughs.
—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
13 June 2026
The biggest breakthroughs came during a 2023 expedition supported by a National Geographic grant awarded to Hesham Sallam.
—
Sanaa El-Sayed,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
Climate scientists warned that the influence of politics in science funding decisions could prevent important new scientific breakthroughs and set their field back years.
—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
These leaders possess the courage to make bold decisions in the face of ambiguity, often leading to significant breakthroughs that can transform entire industries.
—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes,
3 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breakthroughs
Noun
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The adjacent riverfront area has seen astonishing growth and improvements, with a two-mile-long stretch of pedestrian paths, parks and other green space, and an event pavilion.
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Over 1,000 homes also have had backwater valves installed to prevent public sewer water backing up into homes during high-flow conditions, and almost 500 homes received sewer infrastructure improvements at no-cost to the homeowners, according to the MDC.
Noun
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Successes against Russia boost Ukrainian morale On the front line in eastern Ukraine, where Russia’s war of attrition has made slow and costly advances since Moscow’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has deployed cutting-edge drone technology to keep the enemy pinned down.
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These include advances in cancer prevention, screening and treatment.
Noun
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Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more.
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This phenomenon arises from the stress of unresolved, postponed difficult decisions in today's uncertain economic and technological landscape, particularly with rapid AI advancements.
Cite this Entry
“Breakthroughs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breakthroughs. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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