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
Musk and Altman, along with Brockman, who joined from Stripe, were convinced that there were only a few computer scientists alive capable of making the required breakthroughs.
—
Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Understanding where innovation is accelerating, and how these breakthroughs will diffuse across economies and societies, will define the next chapter of global technological leadership.
—Semafor Events, semafor.com, 5 Apr. 2026
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office credited the breakthroughs to forensic genealogy, a process that combines advanced DNA sequencing with traditional genealogical research to locate living relatives.
—Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
The need for subscription pricing for lenacapavir is made clear looking back upon the implementation challenges faced by two other recent infectious disease breakthroughs, cabotegravir PrEP and hepatitis C antivirals.
—Michael Rose, STAT, 3 Apr. 2026
On the flip side, this aspect can also spark breakthroughs that contribute to the decision to set boundaries and to own your self-worth.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
That was all before the breakthroughs that have happened in AI recently.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 Apr. 2026
Aligning with the backdrop of shifting labor dynamics at the e-commerce giant, the Teamsters gained some breakthroughs in its new provisional DHL contract.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 1 Apr. 2026
Metrics and siloed organizational structures can get in the way of breakthroughs like a whole new system for boarding a plane.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Understanding where innovation is accelerating, and how these breakthroughs will diffuse across economies and societies, will define the next chapter of global technological leadership.
—Semafor Events, semafor.com, 5 Apr. 2026
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office credited the breakthroughs to forensic genealogy, a process that combines advanced DNA sequencing with traditional genealogical research to locate living relatives.
—Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
The need for subscription pricing for lenacapavir is made clear looking back upon the implementation challenges faced by two other recent infectious disease breakthroughs, cabotegravir PrEP and hepatitis C antivirals.
—Michael Rose, STAT, 3 Apr. 2026
On the flip side, this aspect can also spark breakthroughs that contribute to the decision to set boundaries and to own your self-worth.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
That was all before the breakthroughs that have happened in AI recently.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 Apr. 2026
Aligning with the backdrop of shifting labor dynamics at the e-commerce giant, the Teamsters gained some breakthroughs in its new provisional DHL contract.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 1 Apr. 2026
Metrics and siloed organizational structures can get in the way of breakthroughs like a whole new system for boarding a plane.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breakthroughs
Noun
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The firm managed stadium improvements for Major League Baseball’s Athletics ahead of the team’s temporary move to West Sacramento, and renovated Hughes Stadium at Sacramento City College in 2013.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
9 Apr. 2026
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The primary purpose of the grant program is to assist with property improvements which will enhance Oswego’s downtown business district.—
Linda Girardi,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
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According to the student paper, Welsh became extremely popular and spurned the advances of the men on campus.—
Patrick Salland,
Kansas City Star,
7 Apr. 2026
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The changes aim to eliminate what officials described as stigmatizing language and reflect advances in preventative care.—
Eric Henderson,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The advancements and huge sums of money flowing into the sector pose both risks and rewards for insurers and lenders.—
April Roach,
CNBC,
6 Apr. 2026
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Despite these advancements, STI rates in the United States continue to rise.—
Care Resource,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breakthroughs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breakthroughs. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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