outbreak

noun

ˈau̇t-ˌbrāk How to pronounce outbreak (audio)
Definition of outbreaknext
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

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 While norovirus is frequently associated with cruise ships, those instances account for just 1% of all outbreaks reported. — Nathan Diller, USA Today, 2 July 2026 The pullback has had implications for the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, aid workers say. — Stephanie Armour, CBS News, 1 July 2026 The current situation is far smaller than the 2025 outbreak that wiped out millions of commercial birds and sent egg prices soaring, but bird flu is still spreading in flocks across the country, and small backyard operations are not immune. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026 The outbreak exacerbates existing vulnerabilities like conflict, malnutrition, and low vaccination rates, while fear deters routine healthcare. — Maryanne Murray Buechner, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for outbreak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outbreak
  1. flurry
  2. revolt
  3. burst
  4. insurrection
  5. outburst
  6. uprising
  7. mutiny
  8. rebellion
Noun
  • June was a frenetic month for the metro Atlanta restaurant scene, driven in part by a flurry of downtown openings timed to the beginning of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
    — Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 1 July 2026
  • Trump took in tens of millions of dollars in fees from a flurry of new hotel, resort and condo deals overseas that amounts to the biggest property expansion ever in the century since the family business was founded.
    — Bernard Condon, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of flurry
Noun
  • The people ended up burning down the house of one of the tax collectors, prompting President George Washington to raise the first federal army against them and quickly quell the revolt.
    — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • At once pugnaciously combative and unreservedly sentimental, Landon chose to take the series out with a commentary on class revolt.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026
Definition of revolt
Noun
  • Jennifer Storms, chief marketing officer for NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, said her team has carefully planned the timing of the spots to coincide with the burst of patriotism and celebration around America 250 events.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 3 July 2026
  • Used on the plate (rather than during cooking), finishing salt adds crunch, elegance and a burst of salinity.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
Definition of burst
Noun
  • The pair took a big swing in 2022 around the first anniversary of the Capitol insurrection on January 6.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 June 2026
  • The violence, described as a failed insurrection by President Cyril Ramaphosa, vandalized more than 160 shopping malls, led to tens of thousands of job losses, and cost the economy roughly $3 billion.
    — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of insurrection
Noun
  • The pitcher and batter didn’t acknowledge the outburst, although Wrobleski’s pitch ended up in the dirt for a full count.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • Fresh off a 22-run outburst Friday, the question became what would the Sox do for an encore Saturday.
    — LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2026
Definition of outburst
Noun
  • Johnny Knoxville faces a summer camp uprising as his new comedy heads to theaters.
    — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 6 July 2026
  • Egypt’s tourism has started to recover after years of years of political turmoil and violence following the 2011 uprising, as well as the coronavirus pandemic.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026
Definition of uprising
Noun
  • Amid the mutiny in the House, Johnson canceled unrelated votes, struggling to get enough support to move the legislation.
    — Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 30 June 2026
  • The war's disastrous optics erode his legitimacy, amplified by internal dissent like a viral military blogger's mutiny warning and soldiers threatening officers.
    — Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of mutiny
Noun
  • Amid a rebellion over the SAVE Act, Johnson lost control of the House floor for a second time this week, sending lawmakers home early for the July Fourth recess.
    — Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • These battles have completely receded from the American imagination, even though, in some ways, the American rebellion was a sideshow to a far greater imperial drama.
    — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 2 July 2026
Definition of rebellion

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outbraving
outbreak
outbreaks
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Cite this Entry

“Outbreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outbreak. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of outbreak for Spanish Speakers

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