1
as in flurry
a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity
there was an immediate outbreak of paper shuffling and a pretense of work when the supervisor passed through the room
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in revolt
open fighting against authority (as one's own government)
the government quelled the outbreak with ruthless efficiency
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 outbreak
Such work is particularly valuable during outbreaks such as the spread of hepatitis A among San Diego’s unhoused residents in 2017.
—
Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2025
Several companies have issued recalls for whole cucumbers and cucumbers used in a range of sandwiches, salsas and other foods linked to the outbreak.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 31 May 2025
Crises and opportunities In 2022, supply-chain disruptions and a bacterial outbreak that temporarily closed Similac’s plant set off a harrowing nationwide infant formula shortage.
—Alisha Haridasani Gupta, New York Times, 31 May 2025
The cucumbers were linked to a Salmonella outbreak, which has grown to 45 cases across 18 states.
—Jenna Anderson, Health, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2025
Several companies have issued recalls for whole cucumbers and cucumbers used in a range of sandwiches, salsas and other foods linked to the outbreak.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 31 May 2025
Crises and opportunities In 2022, supply-chain disruptions and a bacterial outbreak that temporarily closed Similac’s plant set off a harrowing nationwide infant formula shortage.
—Alisha Haridasani Gupta, New York Times, 31 May 2025
The cucumbers were linked to a Salmonella outbreak, which has grown to 45 cases across 18 states.
—Jenna Anderson, Health, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outbreak
Noun
-
Beyond the playoffs, NBA Draft, and flurry of early-summer free agency moves, the large majority of the NBA calendar plays out on regional sports networks.—
John Cassillo,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
-
Posey sent a message, and that message was received. Led by Johnson, Ramos and plenty of others, the Giants responded to this morning’s flurry of roster moves by erasing a five-run deficit against the San Diego Padres to beat their divisional rival, 6-5.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
5 June 2025
Noun
-
Five days later, after a revolt, he was reinstated.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
3 June 2025
-
Related article As Trump reignites a trade war and faces a bond market revolt, the economy is about to go through the wringer this week It’s been somewhat difficult to assess the true health of consumer spending lately.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
27 May 2025
Noun
-
Then, just before the neutron star is consumed by the black hole, these waves turn into a powerful blast, emitting a burst of radio waves known as a fast radio burst (FRB).—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
5 June 2025
-
Ranch: Smooth, rich and irresistibly savory – our Ranch Snack Wrap delivers a satisfying burst of cool ranch goodness, with hints of garlic and onion.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
4 June 2025
Noun
-
Although Tarrio himself was not in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6, the Department of Justice viewed him as one of the masterminds of the insurrection.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
12 June 2025
-
The Act forbids the U.S. military, including the National Guard, from participating in civilian law enforcement, unless there is an invasion or an insurrection — and there is not.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
11 June 2025
Noun
-
The outburst comes just days after Trump and Musk appeared together for a chummy White House news conference billed as a friendly sendoff for the latter.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
3 June 2025
-
Brandon Novy capped the 10-run outburst with an inside-the-park home run.—
Compiled From Wire Reports,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 June 2025
Noun
-
The barricade at the heart of the novel and the musical is actually a scene from the savagely repressed uprising of June 1848.—
Graham Robb,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2025
-
Those runs capped a seven-run, ninth-inning uprising that turned a 10-4 laugher into an 11-10 setback.—
Dan Schlossberg,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
But an unconvincing victory could eventually bubble up into the kind of discontent that fueled the Wagner paramilitary force mutiny in 2023.—
Anatoly Kurmanaev,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
-
Although the crisis was quickly defused and Prigozhin was eliminated two months later, the mutiny dealt a significant blow to the regime.—
ANDREI YAKOVLEV,
Foreign Affairs,
16 May 2025
Noun
-
Hulu's Emmy-winning series pushed far beyond the events in Margaret Atwood's 1985 book, building to a rebellion in the totalitarian, patriarchal nation where women are dehumanized and used as vessels for breeding.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
28 May 2025
-
While there were wins for the rebellion, Gilead lives on with many of June’s strongest allies trapped there at the start of the episode, like Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) and Janine (Madeline Brewer).—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
26 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Outbreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outbreak. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share