1
as in bursts
a sudden intense expression of strong feeling
the judge directed the courtroom spectators to refrain from any outbursts when the verdict was read
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in flurries
a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity
there was a remarkable outburst of work in the office as the visiting VIPs made their tour
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in eruptions
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of outbursts
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
This time, there wasn’t nearly as long of a gap between scoring outbursts.
—Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026
Director Matt Pfeiffer tries not to tie it too strongly to an extreme light or dark mood but does keep up a snappy pace, plays most of the angriest outbursts for laughs and takes good advantage of the openness of the Playhouse on Park stage area.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2026
The Lyrids can sometimes produce surges of up to 100 meteors per hour, but Lunsford says with about a 60-year period between these particularly active outbursts the next one isn’t expected until 2040.
—Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
The version of you that relied on impulse, passion or perhaps even angry outbursts is becoming stronger and more intentional.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
The rapper, who now goes by Ye, faces a potential ban in the country amid ongoing backlash over his past antisemitic outbursts.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2026
The new secretary takes up his post at a time when traditional diplomacy often takes a back seat to Trump’s off-the cuff comments and social media outbursts.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
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
This time, there wasn’t nearly as long of a gap between scoring outbursts.
—Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026
Director Matt Pfeiffer tries not to tie it too strongly to an extreme light or dark mood but does keep up a snappy pace, plays most of the angriest outbursts for laughs and takes good advantage of the openness of the Playhouse on Park stage area.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2026
The Lyrids can sometimes produce surges of up to 100 meteors per hour, but Lunsford says with about a 60-year period between these particularly active outbursts the next one isn’t expected until 2040.
—Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
The version of you that relied on impulse, passion or perhaps even angry outbursts is becoming stronger and more intentional.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
The rapper, who now goes by Ye, faces a potential ban in the country amid ongoing backlash over his past antisemitic outbursts.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2026
The new secretary takes up his post at a time when traditional diplomacy often takes a back seat to Trump’s off-the cuff comments and social media outbursts.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outbursts
Noun
-
Even activities like playing video games and watching TV, according to Yasinski, can be helpful if done in short bursts.—
Lesly Gregory,
AJC.com,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Apply irrigation slowly, water in the early morning when temperatures are lower, and water in long sessions rather than short bursts.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
23 Apr. 2026
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
-
The eruptions – yours, the partner’s – suggest that there’s a lot that’s been simmering underneath your interactions.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The eruptions — yours, the partner’s — suggest that there’s a lot that’s been simmering underneath your interactions.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Every once in a while, the TV would display the now ubiquitous images of Suspect One and Suspect Two, who had been caught by surveillance cameras, wearing backpacks and strolling near the finish line moments before the explosions.—
Saïd Sayrafiezadeh,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
-
In Bamako, sustained gunfire and explosions were heard near the main airport, forcing the cancellation of incoming and outgoing flights.—
Jewel Bright,
NPR,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Parasitic flies have caused outbreaks in Central America and Mexico, which is a primary supplier of cattle to the United States.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
On the outside, he’ll be pushed by Thomas, a third-round pick last year who showed some flashes but also was banged up and didn’t play as much as the Jets would’ve liked in a developmental year.—
Zack Rosenblatt,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The Dolphins seemingly expected a run on offensive linemen in the first round, and got ahead of it by picking Proctor, who showed flashes of quick feet, smooth footwork, and a forceful punch at Alabama.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The flip side of all this is that Perez’s terrific career has been marked by funks and spurts … just seldom this early.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
13 Apr. 2026
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Jamahl Mosley‘s group successfully shared the ball by dishing out 33 assists and defended at a high level in spurts by scoring 28 points off 20 takeaways.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
With no rain in the forecast and a steady breeze with gusts of 20 to 25 mph, conditions are ripe for any fires that start to spread quickly, the National Weather Service said.—
Bill Kelly,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The northern Outer Banks experienced gusts of 20 to 25 mph on Wednesday, and there was a moderate risk of rip currents, the National Weather Service said.—
Mark Price
April 23,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Outbursts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outbursts. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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