Synonyms of breakthroughs

breakthroughs

noun

plural of breakthrough

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• improvements
• advances
• advancements
• developments
• innovations
• refinements
• enhancements
• discoveries
• educations
• evolutions
• increases
• gestations
• ameliorations
• betterments
• enlightenments
• upswings
• upturns
• civilizations
• revivals
• maturations
• perfections
• growths
• inventions
• quantum leaps
• windfalls
• elaborations
• upgrades
• edifications
• finds
• expansions
• uplifts
• meliorations
• renaissances
• uptrends
• boosts
• renascences

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• setbacks
• breakdowns
• impediments
• crashes
• reductions
• collapses
• hindrances
• failings
• stumbling blocks
• decreases
• lapses
• shortcomings
• declines
• degenerations
• drawbacks
• impairments
• glitches
• decays
• downgrades
• deteriorations
• descents
• declensions
• detriments
• diminishments
• decadences
• languishments
• disablements

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of breakthroughs

Taiwan is set to tighten controls on selling cutting-edge AI chips to China in order to win favor with the US, though breakthroughs by Chinese firms suggest Washington’s efforts to contain their development are failing. — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Kushner has defended his private sector connections as having enabled the United States to gain leverage and breakthroughs in tense negotiations. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2026

On the one hand, there are the flow-state breakthroughs, the gratification of acclaim, the rush of connecting with an audience; on the other, the brutal sacrifices of time, money, and stability. — Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026

By comparison, several rising white pop stars have had massive Hot 100 breakthroughs with 2026 releases — including Hobert, ADÉLA, Slayyyter, Sienna Spiro, Alyssa Grace and Ashe. — Kyle Denis, Billboard, 12 Oct. 2026

However, many aspects of the defense enjoyed breakthroughs against Washington, with USC recording a season-high five sacks after having just eight through its first five games. — Jordan Puente, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026

This time is not so different For more than a century, major breakthroughs have sparked widespread fears of job loss, only to be followed by rising productivity and incomes, entirely new categories of work, and sustained growth in GDP. — Ali Kashani, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026

Those type of breakthroughs are becoming more frequent, with teams like Heights, Eastern Hills and Fort Worth Wyatt leading the charge. — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026

Scientists are just beginning to parse through the heap and pick out the most exciting breakthroughs in their own fields. — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2026