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
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
Quantum remains experimental in many respects, and significant breakthroughs are still needed.
—Dr. Jonathan Reichental, Forbes.com, 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
Medical breakthroughs are not the pinnacle of progress.
—Tomas J. Philipson, Twin Cities, 4 June 2026
For him, the most significant aspect has always been not just the science, but how these breakthroughs improve patients’ lives.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 3 June 2026
Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, and Lainey Wilson have all had breakthroughs.
—Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 2 June 2026
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
Quantum remains experimental in many respects, and significant breakthroughs are still needed.
—Dr. Jonathan Reichental, Forbes.com, 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
Medical breakthroughs are not the pinnacle of progress.
—Tomas J. Philipson, Twin Cities, 4 June 2026
For him, the most significant aspect has always been not just the science, but how these breakthroughs improve patients’ lives.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 3 June 2026
Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, and Lainey Wilson have all had breakthroughs.
—Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 2 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breakthroughs
Noun
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The company monitors the amount of carbon stored in farmers’ soils and issues a certificate for carbon improvements.—
Jasmin Sykes,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
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PennDOT is installing about $20,000 in safety improvements at a Delaware County intersection where a college math professor was killed while riding his bicycle six months ago.—
Madeleine Wright,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Noun
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This change has fundamentally revolutionized the pace of innovation—shifting us away from incremental advances and toward more rapid, system-level transformations across science and engineering.—
Rachel Nuwer,
Scientific American,
16 June 2026
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Researchers have been trying to develop a test for CTE prior to death, but there are currently no advances.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
Noun
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Similar rapid advancements occurred with chemistry in the 19th century and physics in the 20th century, and the 21st century will go to biology and medicine.—
Rachel Nuwer,
Scientific American,
16 June 2026
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The case stands as a powerful example of how advancements in forensic science, particularly utilizing DNA and forensic genetic genealogy, continue to transform cold case investigations, delivering answers even decades after crimes occur.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breakthroughs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breakthroughs. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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