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 Last month, oil prices briefly fell to their lowest level since before the late February outbreak of the Iran war on news that a preliminary agreement to end the war had been reached. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 22 July 2026 The findings come as health officials are also investigating the outbreak. — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 22 July 2026 Cyclosporiasis, a gastrointestinal illness that causes diarrhea, weight loss, bloating and cramping, has spread across the country following the beginning of the outbreak in May. — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026 Bill Marler, an attorney who focuses on food-safety cases—and who represents several people suing over the ongoing Cyclospora outbreak—stopped buying prepared salads years ago. — Angela Haupt, Time, 22 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
  • On July 20, 2026 The opening match of WWE Raw started out hot with a flurry of offense from Je’Von Evans and Dragon Lee.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • The singer divides her time between managing the sandwich shop and flying to perform at a flurry of concerts around the country.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
Definition of flurry
Noun
  • Andrew Garfield trades modern superheroes for medieval revolution in the trailer for The Uprising, Paul Greengrass’ historical drama inspired by England’s 1381 peasant revolt.
    — Sophie Miller, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2026
  • See The Sight Of John Brown's Raid Near the rivers sits the original armory guard house, where in 1859, abolitionist John Brown led a legendary but ultimately unsuccessful slave revolt.
    — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 11 July 2026
Definition of revolt
Noun
  • Caviar is one of life’s great pleasures, delicate orbs full of rich bursts of salty, umami deliciousness.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026
  • The latest burst of activity is tied to a twentieth anniversary edition of Kiss of Death, which arrived earlier this month.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 17 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
  • There have been other outbursts of violence against immigrants.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 July 2026
  • William also was not inclined to let himself be bothered by Harry’s outbursts over the past several weeks, the authors said.
    — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 13 July 2026
Definition of outburst
Noun
  • This uprising of students at the Athens Polytechnic University and their famous pirate-radio broadcasts are commonly understood to be the beginning of the end of the junta.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
  • Pride events are held today in San Diego to honor the Stonewall uprising of 1969, when police raided the Stonewall Inn in New York City and patrons fought back in a dayslong confrontation.
    — Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026
Definition of uprising
Noun
  • For years, they have been stuck at sea with their leader, the great warrior king Odysseus (Matt Damon), trying to find a route home to Ithaca; hunger and desperation have spurred his fiery second-in-command, Eurylochus (Himesh Patel), toward mutiny.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 17 July 2026
  • In the Black Jacobins, CLR James describes the slaves of a plantation sewing mutiny through poison.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
Definition of mutiny
Noun
  • Kathleen insists that Lukas was likely incinerated, along with all of the other corpses that piled up in the Down Deep during the rebellion.
    — Noel Murray, Vulture, 17 July 2026
  • In the film, out September 11, Garfield plays Ploughman, the legendary leader of a ferocious rebellion against the tyranny of King Richard II.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 July 2026
Definition of rebellion

Browse Nearby Words

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 23 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of outbreak for Spanish Speakers

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