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
On this week’s episode of Talking Central Florida, Donovan Myrie from WKMG News 6 and Joe Mario Pedersen from Central Florida Public Media discuss their outlets’ reporting on some of the state’s most pressing healthcare issues, including how the nationwide measles outbreak is impacting Florida.
—
Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
The affected cheeses have yet to be removed from the market as Raw Farm, which has been attached to multiple high-profile outbreaks, has declined the FDA's request to recall its products, the agency said.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
The Adams County Health Department did not identify anyone meeting the case definition of an outbreak during the on-site investigation.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 27 Mar. 2026
In a statement, an FDA spokesperson said the agency’s investigation into the outbreak is ongoing.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
The affected cheeses have yet to be removed from the market as Raw Farm, which has been attached to multiple high-profile outbreaks, has declined the FDA's request to recall its products, the agency said.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
The Adams County Health Department did not identify anyone meeting the case definition of an outbreak during the on-site investigation.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 27 Mar. 2026
In a statement, an FDA spokesperson said the agency’s investigation into the outbreak is ongoing.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outbreak
Noun
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Golden State pulled away from there, keeping the pesky Wizards at bay with a flurry of 3-pointers and free throws.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
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In the franchise’s inaugural game on March 14 in San Jose, a flurry of impressive saves kept Denver in it until the final whistle, despite the club playing a woman down for most of the match after Janine Sonis was sent off in the 26th minute.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Any deal almost certainly needs to involve a compromise as lawmakers on the left and right flanks revolt.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
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Any deal will almost certainly need to involve a compromise as lawmakers on the left and right flanks revolt.—
Lisa Mascaro,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In that last year — like the end of a fireworks show — the lawyers set off a burst of filings and arguments over what evidence and which experts could go in front of a jury.—
Joe Mahr,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
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Such districts are often formed when a school district is experiencing a burst of development or enrollment growth concentrated in certain areas, explained Erica Gonzales, a managing director at the investment bank Stifel who specializes in California school financing.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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There were rebellions, insurrections and an Appian Way lined with crucifixions.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
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Meanwhile, a separate insurrection led by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, a Marxist political party, tore through the southern part of the country in the late 1980s, killing tens of thousands of people.—
Eranda Jayawickreme,
The Conversation,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Risks are higher during periods of greater solar activity, which follows an 11-year cycle that researchers track by tallying the dark sunspots that represent magnetic storms capable of producing outbursts.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
31 Mar. 2026
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No one, not even Jason — who is baffled at the galley’s sudden collapse — is more surprised at Ellie’s outburst than Ben.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Koeninger led off the bottom of the first inning for Keller (23-1-2 overall, 9-0 district) by lining a ball over the left field wall to start a 4-run uprising.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
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Contrary to expectations in Washington and Jerusalem, the war has not sparked a popular uprising.—
Kazem Kazerounian,
Hartford Courant,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The ur-mutiny, encompassing some of these, provoking and provoked by others, is MAGA.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
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That mobility occasionally allowed for communication and coordination during mutinies.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Resistance, rebellion and retribution all come out to play in one of Disney+’s most consistent series that’s unafraid to put its larger-than-life characters into the maw of Venus fly trap-like set of moral and ethical issues.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
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In the era of AI, the notion of learning something for yourself is a quiet, internal act of rebellion against a world that seems to be flowing in the wrong direction.—
Ethan Siegel,
Big Think,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Outbreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outbreak. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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