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
The speed with which the emergency issuance was made — African health officials only confirmed the outbreak on Friday — is unusual.
—
Andrew Joseph, STAT, 17 May 2026
As a results, the outbreak response depends entirely on contact tracing, infection control, Ebola treatment units and safe burial protocols, the same tools that were available during the 2014 West Africa crisis.
—John Drake, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
Now, bird-watching may be at the epicenter of the outbreak on board the MV Hondius, in which three people have died and five others were sickened.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 10 May 2026
The first passengers from a cruise ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak arrived in their home countries on Sunday after evacuating from the vessel earlier in the day.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
Andrew Joseph, STAT, 17 May 2026
As a results, the outbreak response depends entirely on contact tracing, infection control, Ebola treatment units and safe burial protocols, the same tools that were available during the 2014 West Africa crisis.
—John Drake, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
Now, bird-watching may be at the epicenter of the outbreak on board the MV Hondius, in which three people have died and five others were sickened.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 10 May 2026
The first passengers from a cruise ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak arrived in their home countries on Sunday after evacuating from the vessel earlier in the day.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outbreak
Noun
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The flurry of headlines about what was left out of the film—most obviously, the 1993 lawsuit that accused Jackson of molesting a 13-year-old, and subsequent lawsuits alleging similar abuse—also haven’t mattered.—
Jemele Hill,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2026
-
Kieffer acknowledged, however, that the board’s attorneys were looking into the flurry of legal questions regarding the referendum and the map.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
After the fallout over the Epstein files’ revelations on Mandelson, Rayner led a lawmakers’ revolt to force the government to cede control to Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee to decide which documents should be released into the public domain.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
-
Trump is facing something of a revolt at home.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
All over the dress, shimmering sequins created bursts of firework-like patterning, with varied tones of metallic silver.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
17 May 2026
-
The Tempo went on a 10-0 burst heading into the second quarter but the Sparks countered to maintain momentum and led 46-38 at halftime.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Trump then referred to his $5 billion lawsuit against the BBC, over edits made in a 2024 documentary on the January 6 insurrection.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
-
But for those less familiar—say, a teenager who was just 10 when the January 6 insurrection happened—the museum does not guide.—
Kelsey Ables,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Even Republicans, who usually feigned ignorance about the President’s social-media outbursts, were weighing in.—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
There was the occasional outburst as angry drivers leaned heavily on their horns, filling the peaceful meadow with a sudden blast of urban agita, but in general, things remained calm.—
Jack Dolan,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Its clerical rulers, who put down a mass uprising at the start of the year, have faced no sign of organized opposition since the war began.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
20 May 2026
-
Puskin was sent into exile by Tsar Alexander I after his poem Ode to Liberty was found among the possessions of the rebels of the Decemberist uprising.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Full political violence insurance can cover property damage and business interruption tied to terrorism, sabotage, riots, strikes, civil commotion, insurrection, rebellion, mutiny, coup and war.—
Contessa Brewer,Dawn Giel,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
-
Streeting is the first member of Starmer’s cabinet to resign since the mutiny began.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The rebellion stems from Labor’s heavy losses in local elections last week and widespread party frustration over Starmer’s leadership, stagnant economic growth and failure to deliver on campaign promises.—
Danica Kirka,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
-
On the internet, masculinism is presented as a rebellion—a transgressive middle finger to the liberal establishment, expressed in all the words a corporate HR department would order you not to say.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Outbreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outbreak. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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