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
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Recent Examples of outbreak
Meanwhile, warming oceans not only contribute to moisture that piles on the ice and snow, but may also help drive some of the polar outbreaks, studies suggest.
—
Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026
What’s causing the measles outbreaks?
—Elizabeth Yuko, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2026
Finland, remember, had recently dealt with a norovirus outbreak.
—The Sports Desk, NBC news, 7 Feb. 2026
An outbreak along the Arizona-Utah border that began in August of last year is ongoing and has sickened nearly 240 people in Arizona, according to the state's health department.
—Sarah Volpenhein, jsonline.com, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026
What’s causing the measles outbreaks?
—Elizabeth Yuko, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2026
Finland, remember, had recently dealt with a norovirus outbreak.
—The Sports Desk, NBC news, 7 Feb. 2026
An outbreak along the Arizona-Utah border that began in August of last year is ongoing and has sickened nearly 240 people in Arizona, according to the state's health department.
—Sarah Volpenhein, jsonline.com, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outbreak
Noun
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Fallon and Frances shared photos of themselves enjoying the flurries, including a selfie of the father-daughter pair all bundled up while snow fell around them.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Grizzlies star Ja Morant were not traded, but some of the league’s biggest stars changed teams amid a flurry of activity in the days leading up to the deadline.—
HECTOR AMEZCUA,
Sacbee.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Continue reading … THINK AGAIN — New 'microgeneration' of students revolts against 'cringy' campus wokeness.—
,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Outlets including the Wrap and Hollywood Reporter have reported that top agents including Duffy McSwiggin and Marty Diamond, who represent Joni Mitchell and Coldplay, among others, have led a staff revolt demanding Wasserman leave or sell the firm.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The beloved Lip Sleeping Mask is a treat for lips thanks to a burst of coconut oil, shea butter, and murumuru seed butter that deliver serious moisture overnight.—
Francesca Krempa,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Feb. 2026
-
There will be a burst in there at some point.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Americans have been skeptical of brown-skinned people since the days of the Alamo, always fearful Latinos are one step away from insurrection and thus must always be subjugated.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
-
He is now engaged in an ongoing insurrection by violating the Constitution, exceeding his lawful authorities, usurping Congress, and encouraging Republican states to manipulate voting districts and procedures.—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
For his courtroom outbursts, Davis found Thompson in contempt of court and added a little more than four and a half years to his sentence.—
Monroe Trombly,
Louisville Courier Journal,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Chicago answered, with Collin Sexton matching the 12-point outburst and getting enough help from Anfernee Simons and Jaden Ivey to grab a slim 31-27 edge.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Medical workers sympathetic to the uprising, meanwhile, have also changed the names and injuries listed on some patients’ medical charts, to protect their identities from authorities.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Bangladesh votes on Thursday in the first election since a Gen Z rebellion toppled an ageing autocrat – an uprising tens of millions of young people dreamt could chart a new course for their country.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Alekseyev, 64, played a prominent role during the mutiny by mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in the summer of 2023.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
9 Feb. 2026
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In 2023, Alekseyev was sent by the Russian military to negotiate with Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner private mercenary group, during the Wagner group’s mutiny.—
CNN's Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But the rebellion has also spurred a race to the bottom.—
Laura K. Field,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Confederate sympathizers carved up the old design, claiming the red-and-white Crossland pattern to signal rebellion loyalty.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Outbreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outbreak. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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