1
as in tournaments
a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize
undoubtedly the team's best wrestler, he hasn't lost a bout yet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in seizures
a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder
she's currently suffering from a bout of the flu
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 bouts
Sarah Breeden, deputy governor of the Bank of England, said agentic AI could amplify volatility during bouts of market stress.
—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
3 July 2026
That’s because a parasite called Cyclospora, which can contaminate raw produce and causes ferocious and long-lasting bouts of diarrheal illness, is making people sick across several states.
—
Brenda Goodman,
CNN Money,
3 July 2026
Years of crippling sanctions have paralysed the economy as accelerating bouts of mass nationwide protests have been put down by security forces with increasing force — culminating in the killing of thousands of demonstrators in January.
—
Parisa Hafezi,
USA Today,
3 July 2026
Those matches have already been announced for Wednesday's show, with additional bouts and segments expected to be added before Dynamite goes on the air.
—
Rob Wolkenbrod,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Outside of acting, Bates, who turns 78 on June 28, 2026, has opened up about her health issues, including two bouts of cancer and her chronic lymphatic disease, lymphedema.
—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
28 June 2026
Young athletes across Chicago were gearing up Wednesday for their next bouts in the Chicago Park District's Citywide Boxing Showcase.
—
Victor Jacobo,
CBS News,
24 June 2026
It’s been a long 3½ years for Gio Reyna, whose promising career has been derailed by a string of injuries, bouts of immaturity and an aborted loan deal to England’s Nottingham Forest.
—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 June 2026
Fighters warmed up in the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, and some emerged from the Oval Office for their bouts.
—
Rob Crilly,
The Washington Examiner,
19 June 2026
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
3 July 2026
That’s because a parasite called Cyclospora, which can contaminate raw produce and causes ferocious and long-lasting bouts of diarrheal illness, is making people sick across several states.
—
Brenda Goodman,
CNN Money,
3 July 2026
Years of crippling sanctions have paralysed the economy as accelerating bouts of mass nationwide protests have been put down by security forces with increasing force — culminating in the killing of thousands of demonstrators in January.
—
Parisa Hafezi,
USA Today,
3 July 2026
Those matches have already been announced for Wednesday's show, with additional bouts and segments expected to be added before Dynamite goes on the air.
—
Rob Wolkenbrod,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Outside of acting, Bates, who turns 78 on June 28, 2026, has opened up about her health issues, including two bouts of cancer and her chronic lymphatic disease, lymphedema.
—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
28 June 2026
Young athletes across Chicago were gearing up Wednesday for their next bouts in the Chicago Park District's Citywide Boxing Showcase.
—
Victor Jacobo,
CBS News,
24 June 2026
It’s been a long 3½ years for Gio Reyna, whose promising career has been derailed by a string of injuries, bouts of immaturity and an aborted loan deal to England’s Nottingham Forest.
—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 June 2026
Fighters warmed up in the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, and some emerged from the Oval Office for their bouts.
—
Rob Crilly,
The Washington Examiner,
19 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bouts
Noun
-
Croatia has reached the semifinals of the last two tournaments, but its golden generation is aging.
-
Volleyball courts can be found at several local beaches, some of which also host beach volleyball tournaments throughout the year.
Noun
-
The warning signs include all the above but also may include a strong, rapid heartbeat, confusion, vomiting, seizures, slurred speech, or passing out.
-
But that just makes the swelling worse, rapidly causing other body parts to swell—including the brain, which can cause a loss of consciousness, seizures and in some cases, death.
Noun
-
Authors think humans might just be able to leverage a few tools at our disposal to change the course of huge weather events.
-
Tickets were still available for purchase on the X Games website as of early Friday evening, ranging from $19 single-day entry tickets to more than $400 premium tickets with access to the concerts on top of the X Games events.
Noun
-
The British Army also provided protection from attacks by Native American tribes, giving many settlers little reason to support a rebellion.
-
Twice in recent days, the United States has launched retaliatory strikes on Iran following drone attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Noun
-
The Bern, Switzerland, native started just three games in his 2024-25 campaign.
-
Wilson Contreras hit a three-run homer, Caleb Durbin added a home run of his own, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Washington Nationals 6-3 on Monday to extend their winning streak to a season-high five games.
Noun
-
Counties investigate these cases, and officials acknowledge that fraud exists, but neither the state nor local property appraisers publish verifiable statewide fraud statistics.
-
Organizers of celebrations months in the making had to adjust or cancel activities entirely as much of the East Coast sweltered under heat that approached and in many cases surpassed triple digits.
Noun
-
Riders are screened before competitions and anyone considered too inexperienced is denied entry.
-
Olise’s five assists in France’s opening four games have been a ruthless continuation of his club form, having racked up 26 in all competitions for Bayern Munich last season.
Noun
-
This is where the sorcerer’s book of spells resurfaces; James and Henry succeed in summoning a playful demon, Goomi (Trey Parker), a kind of Funko Pop!
-
Morocco, meanwhile, played really well in spells throughout the group stage but would often fail to really capitalize on its dominance.
Cite this Entry
“Bouts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bouts. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
