Definition of outburstnext
1
as in explosion
a sudden intense expression of strong feeling the judge directed the courtroom spectators to refrain from any outbursts when the verdict was read

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2
3
as in eruption
the act or an instance of exploding in the outburst known as a supernova, the star may reach an intrinsic luminosity one billion times that of the sun

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of outburst His violent outburst came during a seemingly innocent play. Josh Yohe, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026 Volgren’s outburst erased a 4-1 deficit after the Spartans scored the first three goals of the period. Jim Hoehn, Twin Cities, 6 Mar. 2026 This sudden outburst earns her a pauper’s grave, after she’s hauled out of the restaurant and shoved, accidentally or intentionally, down the stairs. Alison Willmore, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2026 Kennedy responded with an outburst full of expletives. ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for outburst
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outburst
Noun
  • Others reported explosions around the Iranian city of Kermanshah in an area that is home to multiple missile bases.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Amid the explosions, internet blackouts, and continued uncertainty, some Iranians are seeking a way out.
    Kara Fox, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Last year saw a flurry of legislation in Congress that would do anything from permanently implementing the time (the Sunshine Protection Act) to multiple bills that would allow states to choose for themselves (Hawaii and Arizona have already opted for year-round standard time).
    Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 7 Mar. 2026
  • Investing for the long run A flurry of deals at the end of 2025 saw Alphabet, Oracle, and Meta sell more than $70 billion in bonds over the course of weeks.
    Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Watched behind his closed eyelids the eruption of strange visual forms, shapes of light blooming and disintegrating, blue green and yellow.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
  • Her message endured the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius, centuries of burial beneath volcanic ash, and the slow fade of time itself.
    Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 9 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Andrew Baker, a coral scientist at the University of Miami, said a big burst of federal investment in coral restoration could benefit Florida's reefs.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Gajjar and Brown calibrated how fluctuations in the solar wind and bursts from CMEs can affect narrowband signals, and averaged that over time.
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 8 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Traditional mechanical breakers take milliseconds to interrupt a fault, a brief but dangerous window where an arc flash, or dangerous, high-temperature electrical explosion, can occur.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Tornado warnings were issued across the Illinois area as a large tornado continued to sweep through Illinois and into Indiana, along with large hail and the risk of flash flooding.
    Madeline King, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Outburst.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outburst. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

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