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
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 outbreak
The majority of the cases have been recorded in Collier County, with 107, where an outbreak began earlier this year at Ave Maria University.
—
Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 1 May 2026
As of April 13, a total of 34 people in 13 states have been infected with the outbreak strain of salmonella saintpaul.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 30 Apr. 2026
In 2025, an outbreak sickened more than 500 people in 48 states, with 125 people hospitalized and two deaths.
—Jonel Aleccia, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
More than a year since measles reemerged nationally, outbreaks are still catching many local public health departments off guard.
—Michael C. Burgess, STAT, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 1 May 2026
As of April 13, a total of 34 people in 13 states have been infected with the outbreak strain of salmonella saintpaul.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 30 Apr. 2026
In 2025, an outbreak sickened more than 500 people in 48 states, with 125 people hospitalized and two deaths.
—Jonel Aleccia, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
More than a year since measles reemerged nationally, outbreaks are still catching many local public health departments off guard.
—Michael C. Burgess, STAT, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outbreak
Noun
-
He should not be deluded by the Phillies’ quick flurry of wins after replacing Rob Thompson as manager with Don Mattingly.—
Bill Madden,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2026
-
QuickTake The fire, one of the most destructive in California history, has also led to a flurry of lawsuits against the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Water, the biggest municipal utility in the US.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Ultimately, Wales’ revolt against Labour is not simply a march to Reform.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
6 May 2026
-
The next national election does not have to be held until 2029, but a wipeout on Thursday could tip a restive Labour Party into revolt against its unpopular leader.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 May 2026
Noun
-
An unexpected new burst of infamy arrived in 2011, when the motto appeared at SlutWalk NYC, a feminist protest, on a sign held by a protester—a white woman, as far as anyone could tell.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Each new burst of observation, each refined model, peels back another layer, showing us just how dynamic and surprising the life of a star can be.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
His stand against the insurrection offended the Nebraska Republican Committee.—
Scott Pelley,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
-
In England chaos reaches its zenith when a Kentishman named Jack Cade, encouraged by York (who has been sent to put down a revolt in Ireland), mounts an insurrection that plays havoc in the streets of London.—
Gitanjali Roy,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Flagg and Knueppel traded places as betting favorites during the season, but Flagg’s 96-point outburst over two games on the second-to-last weekend might have tipped the scales.—
Schuyler Dixon,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The Bears took control with a 5-0 outburst in the third quarter for a 12-7 advantage over the defending champions.—
Glae Thien,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
France’s revolution set off a slave uprising in its colony of Saint-Domingue.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Despite the violent uprising at the Capitol on that day, the election results held firm.—
ProPublica,
ProPublica,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
That’s when three-term incumbent Richard Woods will face four Republican challengers and a mutiny among GOP lawmakers, giving him what could be the toughest election he’s ever faced.—
Patricia Murphy,
AJC.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
This didn’t stop him from lining his commercial breakthrough, American Fool, with deeper meaning; with a kind of mutiny.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And, as a heterosexual couple, wasn’t living in sin our final, sole, tiny act of rebellion?—
Eva Wiseman,
Vogue,
7 May 2026
-
Call it a small rebellion against clocks—the things leftists call capitalism’s tool for controlling workers’ time—or just blame Los Angeles traffic.—
Maxwell Adler,
Vanity Fair,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Outbreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outbreak. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
