1
as in flurries
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 insurrections
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 outbreaks
Although more than 20 Ebola outbreaks have taken place in Congo and Uganda, the Bundibugyo virus has been rare.
—
ABC News, 1 June 2026
As population growth drives animal-to-human disease transmission, outbreaks like the current one will become more frequent, requiring a sustained level of vigilance that cuts across sectors.
—Daniele Nyirandutiye, semafor.com, 1 June 2026
Large outbreaks are extremely rare; just 2% to 5% of all Andes cases are estimated to stem from person-to-person transmission.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 1 June 2026
Both vaccines target the Zaire strain, which has caused most of the large outbreaks to date, followed by the Sudan strain.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 1 June 2026
Norovirus is often associated with cruise ships, but those cases account for only 1% of outbreaks reported.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 1 June 2026
Helen Branswell When President Biden left office in January 2025, his administration left behind an extensive plan for how the federal bureaucracy should address and work to prevent future disease outbreaks, including Ebola.
—Allison Deangelis, STAT, 1 June 2026
Diversion has been linked to at least 13 disease outbreaks — causing more than 200 infections, mostly of hepatitis C — since 1985, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Brett Kelman, CBS News, 1 June 2026
Since 2014, the world has faced COVID-19, Zika, monkeypox, avian influenza concerns, expanding antimicrobial resistance, and recurring hemorrhagic-fever outbreaks.
—Steve Brozak, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
ABC News, 1 June 2026
As population growth drives animal-to-human disease transmission, outbreaks like the current one will become more frequent, requiring a sustained level of vigilance that cuts across sectors.
—Daniele Nyirandutiye, semafor.com, 1 June 2026
Large outbreaks are extremely rare; just 2% to 5% of all Andes cases are estimated to stem from person-to-person transmission.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 1 June 2026
Both vaccines target the Zaire strain, which has caused most of the large outbreaks to date, followed by the Sudan strain.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 1 June 2026
Norovirus is often associated with cruise ships, but those cases account for only 1% of outbreaks reported.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 1 June 2026
Helen Branswell When President Biden left office in January 2025, his administration left behind an extensive plan for how the federal bureaucracy should address and work to prevent future disease outbreaks, including Ebola.
—Allison Deangelis, STAT, 1 June 2026
Diversion has been linked to at least 13 disease outbreaks — causing more than 200 infections, mostly of hepatitis C — since 1985, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Brett Kelman, CBS News, 1 June 2026
Since 2014, the world has faced COVID-19, Zika, monkeypox, avian influenza concerns, expanding antimicrobial resistance, and recurring hemorrhagic-fever outbreaks.
—Steve Brozak, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outbreaks
Noun
-
The checkup came amid mounting scrutiny of the president's health, particularly given recent flurries of late-night social media posts, as well as his at-times tired demeanor during official meetings.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
30 May 2026
-
Snow flurries began at that elevation on Wednesday.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
There were rebellions, insurrections and an Appian Way lined with crucifixions.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
-
But the regime, besieged by insurrections across the country, abandoned Manbij.—
Anand Gopal,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The device does not try to impress in short bursts.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
Most radio-producing objects release bursts that last for mere seconds or less, but long-period radio transients, about a dozen of which are known, produce radio waves in bursts lasting from minutes to over an hour.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Starmer also has angered supporters with attempts to cut welfare spending, some of which were reversed after Labour revolts.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 May 2026
-
Then came revolts and revolutions in Ireland, the Swiss cantons, the Rhineland, the Netherlands, the Italian states, and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
This would trigger explosive outbursts on the white dwarf, which would be seen across the galaxy as a nova eruption.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
3 June 2026
-
More Than Headlines Beckham’s talent was undeniable, but it was constantly put on the backburner as the constant talk around him was mostly about on-field outbursts and questionable comments.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Hadi became president in 2012 after the resignation of longtime leader Ali Abdullah Saleh during the Arab Spring uprisings.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 May 2026
-
Dipke also took pains to distance the movement from comparisons to violent Gen Z uprisings in Nepal and Bangladesh, saying the CJP would maintain peaceful dissent within the bounds of the Constitution of India.—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
23 May 2026
Noun
-
Rhaenyra is suddenly dealing with internal criticism, possible rebellions, subjects spray-painting nasty stuff on the walls and self-doubt.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
Yet for critics of this militarized approach, the army has done less to tame rebellions than to terrorize the island’s peasant communities.—
Patrick Peralta,
The Conversation,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
That mobility occasionally allowed for communication and coordination during mutinies.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
8 Mar. 2026
-
This includes leader assassination attempts by political opponents or lone wolves or mutinies by disgruntled soldiers who might even march on the presidential palace to demand higher pay, promotions or other policy concessions.—
John Joseph Chin,
The Conversation,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Outbreaks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outbreaks. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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