Definition of outburstnext
1
as in explosion
a sudden intense expression of strong feeling the judge directed the courtroom spectators to refrain from any outbursts when the verdict was read

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2
3
as in eruption
the act or an instance of exploding in the outburst known as a supernova, the star may reach an intrinsic luminosity one billion times that of the sun

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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 outburst Baylen Dupree found social fame on TikTok with her honest and hilarious videos about living with Tourette's syndrome, and her unpredictable outbursts push the show's TV-14 rating to the limit. K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 15 May 2026 These are accompanied by jarring, discordant music tone outbursts accented with a vexing metallic buzz. Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 13 May 2026 Like any public hearing, there were a few jokers who had some strange outbursts, but the majority of the over a dozen speakers weren’t satisfied with Gower’s presentation and used their times to ask questions of the owners as to what has taken so long with this project. Brian Welk, IndieWire, 12 May 2026 The offensive outburst was needed. Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 9 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for outburst
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outburst
Noun
  • Rubin, with the exquisite detail of its images, is well placed to find these types of events, in which stars disappear in explosions that can be too faint for other surveys to see.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 15 May 2026
  • In New York City, the explosion of rideshare pickups and last-mile delivery overwhelmed curbside infrastructure built for a different era.
    Chase Garbarino, Fortune, 15 May 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • As previously reported, the eruption of Mount Vesuvius released thermal energy roughly equivalent to 100,000 times the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II, spewing molten rock, pumice, and hot ash over the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in particular.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 18 May 2026
  • Its origin—Crater Lake formed following a volcanic eruption 7,700 years ago—only adds to the allure.
    Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 17 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
  • In a remote part of northwestern Venezuela, there is a crack and flash of lightning most nights of the year.
    Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2026
  • Yet the sport still shows flashes of strength.
    CBS News, CBS News, 13 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Outburst.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outburst. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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