as in erupts
to develop suddenly and violently
in the wake of news reports of deaths from the flu, panic broke out, and there was a mad rush for flu shots
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Recent Examples of breaks out
Body camera video shows Graham running from the deputy as a struggle breaks out.
—
Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026
At times, yes, when a football match breaks out between all of those stoppages.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Continue reading … POLITICS SENATE SHOWDOWN – Yelling match breaks out in Senate hearing with former Biden official over ‘two spirit’ safe spaces.
—FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Packing a tent, space blanket, tarp and bivy can help you be prepared if severe weather breaks out or your plan takes a turn.
—Daniella Segura, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026
At times, yes, when a football match breaks out between all of those stoppages.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Continue reading … POLITICS SENATE SHOWDOWN – Yelling match breaks out in Senate hearing with former Biden official over ‘two spirit’ safe spaces.
—FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Packing a tent, space blanket, tarp and bivy can help you be prepared if severe weather breaks out or your plan takes a turn.
—Daniella Segura, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaks out
Verb
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Parents should show their child another way to behave and show their emotions in a healthy manner when conflict erupts.—
Lina Ruiz,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Feb. 2026
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In Empire City, when a hostage crisis erupts inside New York’s landmark Clybourn Building, former Navy SEAL turned firefighter Rhett (Butler), his squad, and his NYPD wife Dani (Atwell) must fight and navigate their way through the building to rescue the captives.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After debuting with minimal fanfare in November 2025, the provocative Canadian drama about rival hockey players whose passion explodes into lust (and eventually love) became a word-of-mouth sensation.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Feb. 2026
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The Grand Prix winner of last year’s Cannes Critics Week, filmmaker Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke’s snaky, surprising fable starts with a sneeze and explodes into a saga about bureaucracy, modernization and moral corruption.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breaks out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaks%20out. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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