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
While researchers have identified some possible treatments, Chandran says the resources needed to develop them have been hard to come by, partially due to how rare hantavirus outbreaks are.
—
Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 4 May 2026
This includes illnesses such as cholera, bubonic plague, typhus, measles and smallpox — diseases that historically have caused large outbreaks, especially when populations mix, as seen when the New World was exposed to Europeans.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
Disease outbreaks involving gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses happen periodically on cruise ships, which are full of people in close quarters for long stretches of time.
—Susan Montoya Bryan, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
Wider access will probably mean more outbreaks, said Donald Schaffner, a Rutgers University food science professor.
—Laura Ungar, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2026
That film was released at a time when gang movies were popular, amid a rash of violent outbreaks at movie theaters.
—Michael Pressman, HollywoodReporter, 30 Apr. 2026
More than a year since measles reemerged nationally, outbreaks are still catching many local public health departments off guard.
—Michael C. Burgess, STAT, 30 Apr. 2026
Wider access will probably mean more outbreaks, said Donald Schaffner, a Rutgers University food science professor.
—Laura Ungar, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
Nearly 50 million people across the Plains and Midwest are on alert for severe weather outbreaks, including tornadoes, from Sunday into Monday.
—Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 4 May 2026
This includes illnesses such as cholera, bubonic plague, typhus, measles and smallpox — diseases that historically have caused large outbreaks, especially when populations mix, as seen when the New World was exposed to Europeans.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
Disease outbreaks involving gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses happen periodically on cruise ships, which are full of people in close quarters for long stretches of time.
—Susan Montoya Bryan, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
Wider access will probably mean more outbreaks, said Donald Schaffner, a Rutgers University food science professor.
—Laura Ungar, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2026
That film was released at a time when gang movies were popular, amid a rash of violent outbreaks at movie theaters.
—Michael Pressman, HollywoodReporter, 30 Apr. 2026
More than a year since measles reemerged nationally, outbreaks are still catching many local public health departments off guard.
—Michael C. Burgess, STAT, 30 Apr. 2026
Wider access will probably mean more outbreaks, said Donald Schaffner, a Rutgers University food science professor.
—Laura Ungar, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
Nearly 50 million people across the Plains and Midwest are on alert for severe weather outbreaks, including tornadoes, from Sunday into Monday.
—Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 27 Apr. 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
-
Kay describes the aesthetic of the record in bursts.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Sycamore’s story is told in short bursts that immerse the reader into the present moment, creating a sense of urgency in the exploration of self, art, and family.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The fiercest tax revolts are brewing at the local level.—
Annie Lowrey,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
-
During the Arab Spring revolts of the early 2010s, Cairo was routinely racked by blackouts, and Mansour teamed up with an architect friend to experiment with rooftop solar on houses.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Before the emotional outbursts at the meeting Thursday, Kinnear-Rausch, Little and Williams all expressed their heartbreak over the death of Jaxon and pledged to fix problems that led to the tragedy.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
But, unexpectedly, its film version released that same year became a midnight movie phenom, marked by its impromptu audience outbursts and eventually becoming a counter-culture landmark, widening the generational divide even further.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In the United States, the Civil War reshaped the nation and redefined freedom, while revolutionary movements and nationalist uprisings spread across Europe.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
-
In 2020, during the George Floyd uprisings, Seattle became one of the country’s most volatile flashpoints.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 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 7 May. 2026.
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