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
Wu said more than a dozen viruses are circulating, including adenoviruses and pertussis, which has caused outbreaks and fatalities in other parts of the country.
—
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 5 Jan. 2026
This would have been a great moment to reiterate how high immunization rates in surrounding communities protected them from infection despite the outbreak in Gaines County.
—Deborah L. Birx, STAT, 5 Jan. 2026
Several public health experts warned that the changes announced Monday could fuel outbreaks of preventable diseases.
—Sarah Owermohle, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
Because of an outbreak of equine herpesvirus, a contagious equine virus that can cause neurological and respiratory diseases, the decision was made to not have any horses or other equines in the parade.
—Tracy Trobridge, Baltimore Sun, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 5 Jan. 2026
This would have been a great moment to reiterate how high immunization rates in surrounding communities protected them from infection despite the outbreak in Gaines County.
—Deborah L. Birx, STAT, 5 Jan. 2026
Several public health experts warned that the changes announced Monday could fuel outbreaks of preventable diseases.
—Sarah Owermohle, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
Because of an outbreak of equine herpesvirus, a contagious equine virus that can cause neurological and respiratory diseases, the decision was made to not have any horses or other equines in the parade.
—Tracy Trobridge, Baltimore Sun, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outbreak
Noun
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Beijing has responded with a flurry of economic pressure, including cutting flights and warning citizens against traveling to Japan.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Newport Harbor ended the first period with another flurry.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty Images One popular narrative is that retail investors who joined the GameStop phenomenon did so as a revolt against Wall Street.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
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The former Democratic senator from Montana compared the current political atmosphere to the year the party picked up 12 Senate seats and the White House thanks to a Depression-era revolt against Republicans.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The only constant is Mount Etna, looming off to one side, at times sputtering out smoke, ash, and short bursts of lava.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
-
And yet, two-thirds into the song’s six-minute lurch, a beaming synth line appears like a biblical burst of light, a plea for sanctuary from perpetual chaos.—
Stuart Berman,
Pitchfork,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Google, Microsoft and Meta (then Facebook), paused their political spending in the wake of the insurrection.—
Antonio Pequeño IV,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
If the goal is to trigger unruly public unrest to justify presidential invocation of the insurrection act as some charge, why not visit the spirited crowds at WWE instead.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The film shows how Davidson, with the help of friends played by Maxine Peake and Peter Mullan — the latter who is nominated in BAFTA’s Supporting Actor category — learned how to try and control his outbursts.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
27 Jan. 2026
-
No one was hurt, but the tour decided post-match to forfeit the Arnold/Emmrich team for the outburst.—
Todd Boss,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The perception is that the police and military don’t feel empowered to fully discharge their duties given lingering public revulsion at their role in the July uprising.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
28 Jan. 2026
-
In Derek Jarman’s 1978 film Jubilee, the punk-scene celebrity Jordan cheekily refers to a Situationist slogan that had appeared on the walls of the Latin Quarter in Paris during the uprising of May 1968.—
Hari Kunzru,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Cities have until 45 days before the elections to call them off, but county officials would need to know by late February whether or not the items will be on the ballot, meaning the sun is setting on high-stakes negotiations to stave off a mutiny.—
Lilly Kersh,
Dallas Morning News,
24 Jan. 2026
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Then who would be the Giants’ head coaching hire version of Wilson that would create a legit mutiny among its fan base?—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Cho's team has demanded the death sentence for Yoon by viewing his martial law imposition as a rebellion.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
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The Gettysburg campaign was, in other words, a strategic offensive meant to advance the overall goals of the rebellion if not win the conflict altogether.—
Jamelle Bouie,
Mercury News,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Outbreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outbreak. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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