1
as in flurry
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 revolt
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
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Recent Examples of outbreak
That is far smaller than the 2025 outbreak that killed millions of commercial poultry.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
2 July 2026
The outbreak exacerbates existing vulnerabilities like conflict, malnutrition, and low vaccination rates, while fear deters routine healthcare.
—
Maryanne Murray Buechner,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
The current situation is far smaller than the 2025 outbreak that wiped out millions of commercial birds and sent egg prices soaring, but bird flu is still spreading in flocks across the country, and small backyard operations are not immune.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
1 July 2026
The pullback has had implications for the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, aid workers say.
—
Stephanie Armour,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
2 July 2026
The outbreak exacerbates existing vulnerabilities like conflict, malnutrition, and low vaccination rates, while fear deters routine healthcare.
—
Maryanne Murray Buechner,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
The current situation is far smaller than the 2025 outbreak that wiped out millions of commercial birds and sent egg prices soaring, but bird flu is still spreading in flocks across the country, and small backyard operations are not immune.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
1 July 2026
The pullback has had implications for the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, aid workers say.
—
Stephanie Armour,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outbreak
Noun
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June was a frenetic month for the metro Atlanta restaurant scene, driven in part by a flurry of downtown openings timed to the beginning of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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Trump took in tens of millions of dollars in fees from a flurry of new hotel, resort and condo deals overseas that amounts to the biggest property expansion ever in the century since the family business was founded.
Noun
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The Declaration of Independence, often perceived as a tax revolt, explicitly mentions taxes only once among its 27 grievances, dedicating just eight words to the issue.
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Soon, this kind of spirit will carry the 13 colonies to protest, revolt and win the American Revolution.
Noun
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Jennifer Storms, chief marketing officer for NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, said her team has carefully planned the timing of the spots to coincide with the burst of patriotism and celebration around America 250 events.
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Used on the plate (rather than during cooking), finishing salt adds crunch, elegance and a burst of salinity.
Noun
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The pair took a big swing in 2022 around the first anniversary of the Capitol insurrection on January 6.
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The violence, described as a failed insurrection by President Cyril Ramaphosa, vandalized more than 160 shopping malls, led to tens of thousands of job losses, and cost the economy roughly $3 billion.
Noun
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The pitcher and batter didn’t acknowledge the outburst, although Wrobleski’s pitch ended up in the dirt for a full count.
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Fresh off a 22-run outburst Friday, the question became what would the Sox do for an encore Saturday.
Noun
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An uprising that left inmates in control of a detention center has ended with some people injured, North Carolina officials say.
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Secessionist uprisings in the provinces like Tatarstan or Bashkortistan or Chechnya.
Noun
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Amid the mutiny in the House, Johnson canceled unrelated votes, struggling to get enough support to move the legislation.
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The war's disastrous optics erode his legitimacy, amplified by internal dissent like a viral military blogger's mutiny warning and soldiers threatening officers.
Noun
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Amid a rebellion over the SAVE Act, Johnson lost control of the House floor for a second time this week, sending lawmakers home early for the July Fourth recess.
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These battles have completely receded from the American imagination, even though, in some ways, the American rebellion was a sideshow to a far greater imperial drama.
Cite this Entry
“Outbreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outbreak. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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