1
as in flurries
a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity
there was an immediate outbreak of paper shuffling and a pretense of work when the supervisor passed through the room
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in insurrections
open fighting against authority (as one's own government)
the government quelled the outbreak with ruthless efficiency
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of outbreaks
Scientists have already long linked wildlife trade to specific outbreaks such as HIV, Ebola and COVID-19.
—
Meg Tanaka, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Ebola outbreaks are often triggered after contact with bats, which are sometimes eaten or used for traditional medicine.
—Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 9 Apr. 2026
Preparing for potential disease outbreaks involves increasing global disease surveillance, using predictive models to determine which pathogens should be a research priority and creating action plans for when potential outbreaks are detected.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 9 Apr. 2026
Today, polio is on the ropes, down 99 percent worldwide since that press conference, with outbreaks confined to a handful of countries and eradication efforts continuing.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2026
The sanctions have caused shortages of medicines, equipment, fuel, food and electricity as well as outbreaks of diseases that were previously prevented.
—Mark Weisbrot, Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2026
So far, the Health Department has announced 35 influenza outbreaks from nursing homes or other congregate-setting institutions this flu season, with none occurring in the past week.
—Nathan Ansell, Arkansas Online, 8 Apr. 2026
Three outbreaks in central Los Angeles, Santa Monica and the unincorporated neighborhood of Willowbrook in south Los Angeles County were reported in 2025.
—Don Sweeney
april 8, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Drops in vaccinations have already contributed to the rapid resurgence of measles outbreaks across the country.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
Meg Tanaka, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Ebola outbreaks are often triggered after contact with bats, which are sometimes eaten or used for traditional medicine.
—Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 9 Apr. 2026
Preparing for potential disease outbreaks involves increasing global disease surveillance, using predictive models to determine which pathogens should be a research priority and creating action plans for when potential outbreaks are detected.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 9 Apr. 2026
Today, polio is on the ropes, down 99 percent worldwide since that press conference, with outbreaks confined to a handful of countries and eradication efforts continuing.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2026
The sanctions have caused shortages of medicines, equipment, fuel, food and electricity as well as outbreaks of diseases that were previously prevented.
—Mark Weisbrot, Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2026
So far, the Health Department has announced 35 influenza outbreaks from nursing homes or other congregate-setting institutions this flu season, with none occurring in the past week.
—Nathan Ansell, Arkansas Online, 8 Apr. 2026
Three outbreaks in central Los Angeles, Santa Monica and the unincorporated neighborhood of Willowbrook in south Los Angeles County were reported in 2025.
—Don Sweeney
april 8, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Drops in vaccinations have already contributed to the rapid resurgence of measles outbreaks across the country.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outbreaks
Noun
-
As the rain and snow fall, flurries can melt, mix together and refreeze just before hitting the ground, according to Jackson Macfarlane, a meteorologist with the weather service’s Boise office.—
Hali Smith
April 14,
Idaho Statesman,
14 Apr. 2026
-
From one end skates Wisconsin, racking up upsets and scoring in flurries.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There were rebellions, insurrections and an Appian Way lined with crucifixions.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
-
But the regime, besieged by insurrections across the country, abandoned Manbij.—
Anand Gopal,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Upon first spritz, the perfume bursts with caramel, coconut, and vanilla, balanced by fresh citrus to prevent it from becoming saccharine sweet.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
16 Apr. 2026
-
However, during stronger bursts, the aurora could dip farther south, giving states like Oregon, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire a chance to catch a glow low on the northern horizon, per NOAA forecasts.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
After enduring a series of mini-revolts from fans criticizing last spring’s casting announcement and December’s first-look trailer, Survivor 50 has gotten off to an encouraging start.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Almost immediately Rome was plunged into a series of wars, revolts, and plagues.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The rapper, who now goes by Ye, faces a potential ban in the country amid ongoing backlash over his past antisemitic outbursts.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The new secretary takes up his post at a time when traditional diplomacy often takes a back seat to Trump’s off-the cuff comments and social media outbursts.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In the United States, the Civil War reshaped the nation and redefined freedom, while revolutionary movements and nationalist uprisings spread across Europe.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
-
In 2020, during the George Floyd uprisings, Seattle became one of the country’s most volatile flashpoints.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There were rebellions, insurrections and an Appian Way lined with crucifixions.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
-
By the 19th century China, under the Qing dynasty, had become weakened by internal rebellions, fiscal strain, and the aftermath of the Opium Wars, which exposed its inability to counter the industrialized military methods of the Western imperial powers.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That mobility occasionally allowed for communication and coordination during mutinies.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
8 Mar. 2026
-
This includes leader assassination attempts by political opponents or lone wolves or mutinies by disgruntled soldiers who might even march on the presidential palace to demand higher pay, promotions or other policy concessions.—
John Joseph Chin,
The Conversation,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Outbreaks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outbreaks. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
