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
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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
Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, says the current outbreak shows what consequences of that narrower focus have been and why rarer Ebola species cannot be ignored.
—
Paul Adepoju, Scientific American, 14 June 2026
An outbreak of infant botulism tied to the formula brand ByHeart led to over 50 illnesses in 19 states.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 14 June 2026
Iran initially planned to train in Tucson, Arizona, before the war’s outbreak, but quickly moved to Baja California.
—ABC News, 14 June 2026
Visa processing in Africa has already been curtailed under the Trump administration with a travel ban on certain countries, a requirement for some applicants to post bonds of up to $15,000, and disruptions caused by the ongoing Ebola outbreak.
—Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
Paul Adepoju, Scientific American, 14 June 2026
An outbreak of infant botulism tied to the formula brand ByHeart led to over 50 illnesses in 19 states.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 14 June 2026
Iran initially planned to train in Tucson, Arizona, before the war’s outbreak, but quickly moved to Baja California.
—ABC News, 14 June 2026
Visa processing in Africa has already been curtailed under the Trump administration with a travel ban on certain countries, a requirement for some applicants to post bonds of up to $15,000, and disruptions caused by the ongoing Ebola outbreak.
—Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outbreak
Noun
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Brunson would not go quietly, using another flurry of points to cut the Spurs’ lead back down to six as the quarter neared the halfway point.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
-
That pronouncement set off a flurry of activity that saw reporters scrambling to post to social media channels, while still trying to listen to what Berry had to say.—
Greg Engle,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Noun
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Proposition 13 galvanized a nationwide tax revolt and enshrined the modern system of property taxes.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
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The day shift also starts making factory-work jokes, with Rekha playing a perky do-bee who just wants to make the boss happy, and Lily adopting an agitator role, demanding workman’s comp and trying to spark revolt.—
Tasha Robinson,
Vulture,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Two setups from Pulisic, playmaking in bursts on the left wing, beating three Paraguay defenders during one sprint.—
Filip Bondy,
New York Daily News,
13 June 2026
-
The actress said that the show was inspired by her love of discussing personal topics in short bursts.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 June 2026
Noun
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And Washington, of course, had nothing to do with instigating or inciting the insurrection.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
-
Animals serve as allies, guides, objects of cruelty and aggression, and as striking metaphors for power, imperialism, and insurrection.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Their gripes aren’t just about Sirianni’s outbursts — which, in fairness, mirror those of so many Philly fans.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
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But her outbursts frightened the children too.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
Noun
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Then, as things started to change politically in England, there was the beginning of that feeling of an uprising by the serfs against the aristocracy and the landowners, and this cultural hero rocking the boat and stealing from the rich to give to the poor started to be birthed.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
17 June 2026
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There was also a growing belief among prison officials, around the time of the Attica prison uprising, that being more responsive to prisoners' concerns would reduce the likelihood of violence or rioting.—
Christie Thompson,
NPR,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
The seeds of mutiny are detectable.—
Hanna Rosin,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
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Within six months, Richards’ side of the group staged a mutiny, locked Diekmann in his apartment, and forced him to relinquish control.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
1 June 2026
Noun
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The property tax rebellion is part of a broader push on both the right and left to give tax exemptions to seniors, workers who rely on tips, and the bottom 50% of the country to address cost-of-living pressures.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
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House Democrats are betting that a future Speaker Hakeem Jeffries wouldn’t struggle with the type of aisle-crossing rebellion that’s often vexed current Speaker Mike Johnson.—
Nicholas Wu,
semafor.com,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Outbreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outbreak. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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