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
There are four virus strains known to cause Ebola disease in humans, and three have caused large outbreaks (Zaire, Sudan, and Bundibugyo).
—
Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 18 May 2026
Why This Ebola Outbreak Is More Concerning Past Congo outbreaks including the catastrophic 2018 to 2020 epidemic that killed nearly 2,300 people were caused by the Zaire strain of Ebola.
—Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Warmer temperatures, beetle outbreaks, and an invasive fungus have killed half the population of the sacred trees since the 1990s.
—Ellis Juhlin, NPR, 18 May 2026
Three of the viruses have been known to cause large Ebola disease outbreaks, according to the WHO.
—Nicole Brown Chau, CBS News, 18 May 2026
Unlike most forms of hantavirus, which spread from rodents to humans, Andes is the only strain that is able to transmit from person to person, heightening fears about how outbreaks could unfold under the right conditions.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
Other outbreaks have occurred in Greece, Israel, Romania and Russia.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 11 May 2026
Large outbreaks are extremely rare.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 11 May 2026
Why are cruises at the center of so many outbreaks?
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 11 May 2026
Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 18 May 2026
Why This Ebola Outbreak Is More Concerning Past Congo outbreaks including the catastrophic 2018 to 2020 epidemic that killed nearly 2,300 people were caused by the Zaire strain of Ebola.
—Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Warmer temperatures, beetle outbreaks, and an invasive fungus have killed half the population of the sacred trees since the 1990s.
—Ellis Juhlin, NPR, 18 May 2026
Three of the viruses have been known to cause large Ebola disease outbreaks, according to the WHO.
—Nicole Brown Chau, CBS News, 18 May 2026
Unlike most forms of hantavirus, which spread from rodents to humans, Andes is the only strain that is able to transmit from person to person, heightening fears about how outbreaks could unfold under the right conditions.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
Other outbreaks have occurred in Greece, Israel, Romania and Russia.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 11 May 2026
Large outbreaks are extremely rare.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 11 May 2026
Why are cruises at the center of so many outbreaks?
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 11 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outbreaks
Noun
-
The latest flurries that dusted parts of the Sierra Nevada this week are unlikely to do much to ease California’s snow drought.—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
22 Apr. 2026
-
As the rain and snow fall, flurries can melt, mix together and refreeze just before hitting the ground, according to Jackson Macfarlane, a meteorologist with the weather service’s Boise office.—
Hali Smith
April 14,
Idaho Statesman,
14 Apr. 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 discordant, Bernard Herrmann-esque bursts of María Portugal’s rich score ratchet up the suspense and foreboding.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
-
We were immediately greeted by a resplendence of wildflowers, including purple-pink woolly bluecurls, bright orange southern bush monkey flower, red bursts of cardinal catchfly and at least one Catalina Mariposa lily.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 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
-
Like any public hearing, there were a few jokers who had some strange outbursts, but the majority of the over a dozen speakers weren’t satisfied with Gower’s presentation and used their times to ask questions of the owners as to what has taken so long with this project.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
12 May 2026
-
Until then, neighbors will have to deal with the man's outbursts.—
Lauren Pozen,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Riboua painted a slightly more dire picture of the juntas, arguing that the combination of ethnic uprisings and JNIM’s strategic approach has turned the threat to the three countries existential.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
10 May 2026
-
When did the-- when did the uprisings, when did the revolt in the street happen in Iran?—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Slave rebellions that were violent didn’t mean that slavery is not bad.—
Jackie Hajdenberg,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
-
There were rebellions, insurrections and an Appian Way lined with crucifixions.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 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 19 May. 2026.
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