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
Early humans lived in environments with little sanitation and strong social contact – perfect conditions for outbreaks of pathogens that cause diarrhea.
—
Lilia Goncharova, The Conversation, 9 Mar. 2026
Identifying and treating latent TB has been lauded as a key strategy to prevent outbreaks among migrant communities and the native public for more than a generation by public health experts, according to a 2002 Cornell University study.
—Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026
Through the years, there have been more oil spills, but also toxic algae blooms poisoning sea creatures with domoic acid and disease outbreaks, unusual stranding events that would fill the center to maximum capacity.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 9 Mar. 2026
Disease outbreaks have limited their recovery in the years since.
—Arkansas Online, 8 Mar. 2026
In recent years, bird flu outbreaks have caused significant economic losses across the country.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
This unfolded at a time when police and medical personnel were not prepared for rapid responses to such large-scale outbreaks of violence.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
That storm, among the first outbreaks of severe weather on the verge of the spring storm season, was filmed by a camera mounted on the deputy’s car.
—Isabel Yip, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026
There have unfortunately been enough outbreaks of Middle East conflict in recent decades for Wall Street to have compiled a playbook for investors to navigate them.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 2 Mar. 2026
Lilia Goncharova, The Conversation, 9 Mar. 2026
Identifying and treating latent TB has been lauded as a key strategy to prevent outbreaks among migrant communities and the native public for more than a generation by public health experts, according to a 2002 Cornell University study.
—Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026
Through the years, there have been more oil spills, but also toxic algae blooms poisoning sea creatures with domoic acid and disease outbreaks, unusual stranding events that would fill the center to maximum capacity.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 9 Mar. 2026
Disease outbreaks have limited their recovery in the years since.
—Arkansas Online, 8 Mar. 2026
In recent years, bird flu outbreaks have caused significant economic losses across the country.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
This unfolded at a time when police and medical personnel were not prepared for rapid responses to such large-scale outbreaks of violence.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
That storm, among the first outbreaks of severe weather on the verge of the spring storm season, was filmed by a camera mounted on the deputy’s car.
—Isabel Yip, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026
There have unfortunately been enough outbreaks of Middle East conflict in recent decades for Wall Street to have compiled a playbook for investors to navigate them.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outbreaks
Noun
-
Weather services predict a possibility of flurries, but no matter.—
Jennifer Day,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The weather on Friday and Saturday is expected to be nice with temperatures reaching the 60s and 70s, while Sunday could bring rain and flurries of snow.—
Joseph Hernandez,
Kansas City Star,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But the regime, besieged by insurrections across the country, abandoned Manbij.—
Anand Gopal,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Unlike coups or insurrections, which are swift and explicit, modern democratic backsliding is often incremental.—
Helena Carpio,
Time,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
For a company built around celebration — Fourth of July backyard shows, wedding sendoffs and bursts of color in the sky — the routine has become an uneasy one.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Another displacement or weakening of the polar vortex is underway, which can allow bursts of Arctic air to spill into the Midwest and Northeast at times, according to AccuWeather lead long-range meteorologist Paul Pastelok.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Continue reading … THINK AGAIN — New 'microgeneration' of students revolts against 'cringy' campus wokeness.—
,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The royal government was also known as a dictatorship for banning political parties, suppressing revolts and political opposition, controlling the press and having its own secret police force called SAVAK.—
Nollyanne Delacruz,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But recent outbursts of dissent in some regions including Tibet and Xinjiang prompted Beijing to crack down.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
12 Mar. 2026
-
And a big departure from 2025 when the Rangers managed eight first-inning outbursts of at least three runs on the way to ranking 22nd in runs for the season and 26th in OPS.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Kurds in Iran have a long history of grievances and uprisings against both the current Islamic Republic and the monarchy that preceded it.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
American air power can strike regime forces that move to suppress civilian uprisings and, in the process, probably prevent a massacre.—
Colin Pascal,
Baltimore Sun,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The legislation excludes people accused of involvement in military rebellions or coups, as well as those charged with serious crimes such as human-rights violations, intentional homicide, drug trafficking and corruption.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Aren’t rebellions built on hope?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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 13 Mar. 2026.
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