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
Aid workers have also told CNN that the dismantling of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and US funding cuts carried out prior to the outbreak have impeded the response.
—
Erikas Mwisi, CNN Money, 24 May 2026
Congo has had more than a dozen previous Ebola outbreaks.
—ABC News, 24 May 2026
This latest Ebola outbreak is unfolding alongside a frightening hantavirus outbreak that erupted on a cruise ship.
—Neil Vora, Time, 22 May 2026
How bad is the 2026 Ebola outbreak compared to past epidemics?
—Finch Walker, USA Today, 21 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
Erikas Mwisi, CNN Money, 24 May 2026
Congo has had more than a dozen previous Ebola outbreaks.
—ABC News, 24 May 2026
This latest Ebola outbreak is unfolding alongside a frightening hantavirus outbreak that erupted on a cruise ship.
—Neil Vora, Time, 22 May 2026
How bad is the 2026 Ebola outbreak compared to past epidemics?
—Finch Walker, USA Today, 21 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outbreak
Noun
-
Knight faced an avalanche of shots last season — 1,583, the fourth-most in the NHL — and handled the flurry without a change in his calm demeanor.—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
-
The Jets had the best goalie on the planet, but the Avs broke them with a flurry of tips, deflections and screened shots that Connor Hellebuyck did not handle.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
23 May 2026
Noun
-
Two years later, a group of Hawaiian royalists held an armed revolt to restore the monarchy, and the provisional government blamed her for the violence.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
-
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
Noun
-
But after the early burst, the Liberty had no answer for the trio of Wings' guards.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 May 2026
-
Save for the occasional burst of laughter at moments in the video, the group remained silent.—
Reeti Malhotra
May 23,
Sacbee.com,
23 May 2026
Noun
-
Full political violence insurance can cover property damage and business interruption tied to terrorism, sabotage, riots, strikes, civil commotion, insurrection, rebellion, mutiny, coup and war.—
Contessa Brewer,Dawn Giel,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
-
Over the previous two years, Burr quietly—and then not-so-quietly—investigated the possibility of insurrection, sounding out allies, financiers, and military officers willing to join him.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
Even Republicans, who usually feigned ignorance about the President’s social-media outbursts, were weighing in.—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
There was the occasional outburst as angry drivers leaned heavily on their horns, filling the peaceful meadow with a sudden blast of urban agita, but in general, things remained calm.—
Jack Dolan,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Its clerical rulers, who put down a mass uprising at the start of the year, have faced no sign of organized opposition since the war began.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
20 May 2026
-
Puskin was sent into exile by Tsar Alexander I after his poem Ode to Liberty was found among the possessions of the rebels of the Decemberist uprising.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Full political violence insurance can cover property damage and business interruption tied to terrorism, sabotage, riots, strikes, civil commotion, insurrection, rebellion, mutiny, coup and war.—
Contessa Brewer,Dawn Giel,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
-
Streeting is the first member of Starmer’s cabinet to resign since the mutiny began.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
14 May 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 26 May. 2026.
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