as in incursion
a sudden attack on and entrance into hostile territory
the irruptions of the Goths into Italy in the fifth century
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Recent Examples of irruption
Premodern mysticism was not concerned with the predictable or the probable, but with the opposite: with moments of irruption, of disabling wonder.
—
Chandler Fritz, The New York Review of Books, 21 Mar. 2026
Central to this tumultuous state of affairs was the irruption of graffiti that took the city by surprise starting sometime in the late 1960s as new products like spray-paint and permanent markers were made easily available.
—Antonio Sergio Bessa, Curbed, 20 Oct. 2025
Orwell narrowed it down to the Edwardian era — 1901 to 1919 — long before the irruptions of two world wars and the Great Depression.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
This is the largest owl irruption in Minnesota in two decades.
—Dan Kraker, Twin Cities, 9 Feb. 2025
An irruption is a sudden change in population density.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2023
What is an irruption?
—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 22 Nov. 2022
Chandler Fritz, The New York Review of Books, 21 Mar. 2026
Central to this tumultuous state of affairs was the irruption of graffiti that took the city by surprise starting sometime in the late 1960s as new products like spray-paint and permanent markers were made easily available.
—Antonio Sergio Bessa, Curbed, 20 Oct. 2025
Orwell narrowed it down to the Edwardian era — 1901 to 1919 — long before the irruptions of two world wars and the Great Depression.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
This is the largest owl irruption in Minnesota in two decades.
—Dan Kraker, Twin Cities, 9 Feb. 2025
An irruption is a sudden change in population density.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2023
What is an irruption?
—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 22 Nov. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irruption
Noun
-
Such knowledge is desperately needed along Russia’s border with NATO where there has been a spate of drone incursions in recent months, including from Ukrainian drones sent off course by Russian jamming.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 May 2026
-
Ahead of the series, Embiid urged Philly fans not to sell their tickets, eager to avoid a repeat of the Knicks fans’ 2024 incursion.—
Peter Sblendorio,
Hartford Courant,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Hope centers around an alien invasion from the planet Gh’ertu crash-landing in rural South Korean town, Hope Harbor.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
18 May 2026
-
His government has been repeatedly sanctioned by the West for its crackdown on human rights and for allowing Moscow to use its territory for the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Several other concerns were raised during the roughly three-hour hearing, including questions about how to best protect visitors and participants from federal immigration raids.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
-
While those behind the recent maritime raids have yet to be identified, previous ship captures have often involved young Somalis from impoverished communities and armed extremists affiliated with global terror networks.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Irruption.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irruption. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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