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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Another important note to make is that Lupaia is closed during the winter season for improvements to the rooms, garden, public area, and overall guest experience since the weather is too unpredictable to welcome guests during that time anyway.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 Apr. 2026
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The report highlights the company’s legacy of innovation, demonstrating how process improvements and high-performance products aim to actively help customers reduce their environmental footprints.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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If El-Sayed advances with Piker's support, the party will face continued pressure to engage with him, some analysts predict.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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While none of the commodities are traded as widely as oil, the surge indicates how ripple effects from the Middle East conflict could end up restricting production of the semiconductors that power artificial intelligence advances.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 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 7 Apr. 2026.
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