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

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2
as in revolt
open fighting against authority (as one's own government) the government quelled the outbreak with ruthless efficiency

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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 Doctors told me of a terrible outbreak. Tom Frieden, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025 So far this year, 19 gastrointestinal outbreaks on cruises were reported to the CDC, 14 of which were caused by norovirus, USA Today reported. Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025 The outbreak has sickened at least 20 people across 15 states, leading to 19 hospitalizations and 4 deaths. Amber Brenza, Health, 29 Sep. 2025 As of September 26, that outbreak was linked to 20 illnesses, including 19 hospitalizations and 4 deaths. Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 29 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for outbreak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outbreak
Noun
  • After the Dolphins’ early flurry — 14 of their points came off Young turnovers — the Panthers kept Miami (1-4) off the scoreboard for five consecutive series.
    Joseph Person, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
  • The American serial killer, whose crimes would go on to inspire a flurry of horror films (including Psycho and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre), was also known as the Butcher of Plainfield.
    Yasmeen Hamadeh, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • What began as a protest against a government social media ban quickly morphed into a broader revolt against corruption and economic stagnation.
    Kara Fox, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025
  • The popularity of these names, especially in Galilee, a hotbed of revolt and messianic expectations, stemmed from their revolutionary connotations.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Its approach to comedy is ripped straight from the world of musical cast parties and improv shows, with every performer doing their best to turn every line into a GIF-able burst of wholesome self-deprecation.
    Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 3 Oct. 2025
  • This simple yet powerful step turned noisy, unreliable photon signals into clean bursts of single photons — a breakthrough for future quantum technologies.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The National Guard can be deployed to assist Americans during natural disasters and in times of insurrection or open revolt.
    Brian Bennett, Time, 6 Oct. 2025
  • There is no insurrection in Portland.
    Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The drama centers on 17-year-old Lee Jooin (Seo Su-bin), an unpredictable high school student whose angry outburst creates ripple effects throughout her world.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Late in the Lynx's 86-81 Game 4 loss to Phoenix, Collier suffered an ankle injury on a controversial no-call that resulted in a fiery sideline outburst from Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve.
    Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The uprisings moved through the region as the Arab Spring ignited, and tens of millions of frustrated residents went online to coordinate.
    Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Moroccan protesters are using social media platforms like TikTok and Discord—a messaging app popular among gamers and also used during the Nepal uprising—to organize, with the group 'Gen Z 212' and other groups coordinating rallies.
    Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Vance is fresh off a stay in the English countryside, where the staff of popular pub The Bull in Charlbury allegedly threatened a mutiny if they were forced to serve the staunch conservative.
    Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2025
  • So no red eyes, no space mutinies — just words, structured to be helpful.
    Chris Reed, Oc Register, 30 July 2025
Noun
  • The state argued incidents that arose from the ICE facility protests in recent months have been handled by local law enforcement and have not been severe enough to be considered a riot or rebellion.
    Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Her choice challenges the rules of her world and sparks a rebellion that paves the way for a new way of life.
    Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Outbreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outbreak. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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