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
The speed with which the emergency issuance was made — African health officials only confirmed the outbreak on Friday — is unusual.
—
Andrew Joseph, STAT, 17 May 2026
As a results, the outbreak response depends entirely on contact tracing, infection control, Ebola treatment units and safe burial protocols, the same tools that were available during the 2014 West Africa crisis.
—John Drake, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
Now, bird-watching may be at the epicenter of the outbreak on board the MV Hondius, in which three people have died and five others were sickened.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 10 May 2026
The first passengers from a cruise ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak arrived in their home countries on Sunday after evacuating from the vessel earlier in the day.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
Andrew Joseph, STAT, 17 May 2026
As a results, the outbreak response depends entirely on contact tracing, infection control, Ebola treatment units and safe burial protocols, the same tools that were available during the 2014 West Africa crisis.
—John Drake, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
Now, bird-watching may be at the epicenter of the outbreak on board the MV Hondius, in which three people have died and five others were sickened.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 10 May 2026
The first passengers from a cruise ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak arrived in their home countries on Sunday after evacuating from the vessel earlier in the day.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outbreak
Noun
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The flurry of headlines about what was left out of the film—most obviously, the 1993 lawsuit that accused Jackson of molesting a 13-year-old, and subsequent lawsuits alleging similar abuse—also haven’t mattered.—
Jemele Hill,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2026
-
Kieffer acknowledged, however, that the board’s attorneys were looking into the flurry of legal questions regarding the referendum and the map.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
After the fallout over the Epstein files’ revelations on Mandelson, Rayner led a lawmakers’ revolt to force the government to cede control to Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee to decide which documents should be released into the public domain.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
-
Trump is facing something of a revolt at home.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
All over the dress, shimmering sequins created bursts of firework-like patterning, with varied tones of metallic silver.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
17 May 2026
-
The Tempo went on a 10-0 burst heading into the second quarter but the Sparks countered to maintain momentum and led 46-38 at halftime.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Trump then referred to his $5 billion lawsuit against the BBC, over edits made in a 2024 documentary on the January 6 insurrection.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
-
But for those less familiar—say, a teenager who was just 10 when the January 6 insurrection happened—the museum does not guide.—
Kelsey Ables,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
The Guardians had a five-run outburst in the third inning, taking advantage of four walks, to extend their lead to 7-0.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
Like any public hearing, there were a few jokers who had some strange outbursts, but the majority of the over a dozen speakers weren’t satisfied with Gower’s presentation and used their times to ask questions of the owners as to what has taken so long with this project.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
In January, 2019, amid the popular uprising that would ultimately dissolve Bashir’s government, Ibrahim’s employer assisted the family in obtaining visas and plane tickets to Jordan.—
Annie Hylton,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
-
Cody Bellinger then grounded into a forceout that produced a run, Amed Rosario got an RBI on an infield hit and Grisham capped the uprising with his sixth home run.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 May 2026
Noun
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The only real threat to Putin’s authority came a year into the war, when Yevgeniy Prigozhin, the founder of Wagner, a Russian paramilitary organization, launched a mutiny directed against Russia’s military leadership.—
Joshua Yaffa,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
-
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
Noun
-
The rebellion stems from Labor’s heavy losses in local elections last week and widespread party frustration over Starmer’s leadership, stagnant economic growth and failure to deliver on campaign promises.—
Danica Kirka,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
-
On the internet, masculinism is presented as a rebellion—a transgressive middle finger to the liberal establishment, expressed in all the words a corporate HR department would order you not to say.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Outbreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outbreak. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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