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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in uprisings
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
America’s retreat from WHO deepens the damage by weakening global systems for monitoring outbreaks, reviewing evidence and maintaining databases such as the Global Burden of Disease.
—
Stan Chu Ilo, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
And recent outbreaks of the avian flu have killed off millions of waterfowl and shorebirds.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
These rules, enforced by the state Department of Health, are designed to prevent outbreaks of contagious illnesses that once posed widespread threats.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
That level is considered inadequate to protect against outbreaks of highly contagious diseases like measles.
—Kirby Wilson, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025
There have also been big outbreaks in Africa of the other mpox strains.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 2 Sep. 2025
Nashville's new public health director has a plan for overcoming growing public skepticism on vaccines, reducing public illness outbreaks and improving the physical and mental health for children and adults.
—Beth Warren, The Tennessean, 28 Aug. 2025
Specific antibiotics are needed to treat Legionnaires’ disease which is why community awareness is important to detect outbreaks.
—Renée Onque, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2025
The association represents 64 state, local, and territorial immunization programs, which Ewig said will be less prepared to respond to disease outbreaks, including measles.
—Henry Larweh, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
Stan Chu Ilo, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
And recent outbreaks of the avian flu have killed off millions of waterfowl and shorebirds.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
These rules, enforced by the state Department of Health, are designed to prevent outbreaks of contagious illnesses that once posed widespread threats.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
That level is considered inadequate to protect against outbreaks of highly contagious diseases like measles.
—Kirby Wilson, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025
There have also been big outbreaks in Africa of the other mpox strains.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 2 Sep. 2025
Nashville's new public health director has a plan for overcoming growing public skepticism on vaccines, reducing public illness outbreaks and improving the physical and mental health for children and adults.
—Beth Warren, The Tennessean, 28 Aug. 2025
Specific antibiotics are needed to treat Legionnaires’ disease which is why community awareness is important to detect outbreaks.
—Renée Onque, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2025
The association represents 64 state, local, and territorial immunization programs, which Ewig said will be less prepared to respond to disease outbreaks, including measles.
—Henry Larweh, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outbreaks
Noun
-
Thin air and unpredictable wind flurries near Everest’s highest elevations prevent the drones from operating at some of the final camps leading to the summit.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The riot in Milwaukee, one of scores of uprisings around the United States during the summer of 1967, triggered a citywide lockdown, brought the National Guard — and laid bare the city's racial divide.—
Chris Foran,
jsonline.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
The Dalai Lama has been the key figure quelling violence when grassroots dissatisfaction has escalated into episodic uprisings in Tibet.—
Tenzin Dorjee,
Foreign Affairs,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The palate bursts with rich, agave-forward flavors, revealing curious floral nuances of geranium and sweet spices.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
The bursts packed a punch, uprooting even mature trees in the Carmichael area, and disrupting power to thousands of Sacramento Municipal Utility District customers.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Because of the revolts, Compton says, drumming and African spiritual practices were eventually criminalized in the colonies.—
Mankaprr Conteh,
Rolling Stone,
23 Aug. 2025
-
The Russian Empire would also crush revolts organized by the Crimean Tatars, which saw Russia gain control over the peninsula.—
Mark Temnycky,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
But when his streams became more reactionary, filled with outbursts, expletives, and certified crashouts over losing levels, subscribers flocked in.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
5 Sep. 2025
-
This student’s outbursts had been an ongoing issue for three years, and Elliot quickly realized that few teachers had received the necessary restraint training to handle this student.—
IndyStar,
IndyStar,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The president can also legally invoke the military under the Insurrection Act, which allows troops to be deployed in order to curb insurrections.—
Alison Durkee,
Forbes.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
She’s been shaped by migrations, conquests, philosophies, and rebellions.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
And rebellions, by nature, come in all forms.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Outbreaks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outbreaks. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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