1
as in flurries
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 insurrections
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 outbreaks
Nearly 50 million people across the Plains and Midwest are on alert for severe weather outbreaks, including tornadoes, from Sunday into Monday.
—
Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
Parasitic flies have caused outbreaks in Central America and Mexico, which is a primary supplier of cattle to the United States.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
The agency will use that information to try to determine whether the measles outbreaks in Texas, Arizona and Utah, as well as the outbreaks in South Carolina, Florida and Washington, are linked or the result of separate introductions from outside the US.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
The virus primarily affects infants and young children, but there have also been outbreaks in elderly populations, such as nursing homes.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
So far, the Health Department has announced 35 influenza outbreaks from nursing homes or other congregate-setting institutions this flu season, with none occurring in the past week.
—Nathan Ansell, Arkansas Online, 22 Apr. 2026
As Cleveland Clinic notes, there is no cure or treatment, and during outbreaks up to 90% of those infected can die.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
These field investigations not only provide valuable learning experiences for EIS officers but also help control outbreaks and limit the spread of diseases.
—Matthew Donahue, STAT, 22 Apr. 2026
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has repeatedly said that Mexico has a security plan in place for the soccer matches, despite continued outbreaks of violence in the country.
—Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2026
Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
Parasitic flies have caused outbreaks in Central America and Mexico, which is a primary supplier of cattle to the United States.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
The agency will use that information to try to determine whether the measles outbreaks in Texas, Arizona and Utah, as well as the outbreaks in South Carolina, Florida and Washington, are linked or the result of separate introductions from outside the US.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
The virus primarily affects infants and young children, but there have also been outbreaks in elderly populations, such as nursing homes.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
So far, the Health Department has announced 35 influenza outbreaks from nursing homes or other congregate-setting institutions this flu season, with none occurring in the past week.
—Nathan Ansell, Arkansas Online, 22 Apr. 2026
As Cleveland Clinic notes, there is no cure or treatment, and during outbreaks up to 90% of those infected can die.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
These field investigations not only provide valuable learning experiences for EIS officers but also help control outbreaks and limit the spread of diseases.
—Matthew Donahue, STAT, 22 Apr. 2026
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has repeatedly said that Mexico has a security plan in place for the soccer matches, despite continued outbreaks of violence in the country.
—Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outbreaks
Noun
-
The latest flurries that dusted parts of the Sierra Nevada this week are unlikely to do much to ease California’s snow drought.—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
22 Apr. 2026
-
As the rain and snow fall, flurries can melt, mix together and refreeze just before hitting the ground, according to Jackson Macfarlane, a meteorologist with the weather service’s Boise office.—
Hali Smith
April 14,
Idaho Statesman,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There were rebellions, insurrections and an Appian Way lined with crucifixions.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
-
But the regime, besieged by insurrections across the country, abandoned Manbij.—
Anand Gopal,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Kay describes the aesthetic of the record in bursts.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Sycamore’s story is told in short bursts that immerse the reader into the present moment, creating a sense of urgency in the exploration of self, art, and family.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
During the Arab Spring revolts of the early 2010s, Cairo was routinely racked by blackouts, and Mansour teamed up with an architect friend to experiment with rooftop solar on houses.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
14 Apr. 2026
-
After enduring a series of mini-revolts from fans criticizing last spring’s casting announcement and December’s first-look trailer, Survivor 50 has gotten off to an encouraging start.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Before the emotional outbursts at the meeting Thursday, Kinnear-Rausch, Little and Williams all expressed their heartbreak over the death of Jaxon and pledged to fix problems that led to the tragedy.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
But, unexpectedly, its film version released that same year became a midnight movie phenom, marked by its impromptu audience outbursts and eventually becoming a counter-culture landmark, widening the generational divide even further.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In the United States, the Civil War reshaped the nation and redefined freedom, while revolutionary movements and nationalist uprisings spread across Europe.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
-
In 2020, during the George Floyd uprisings, Seattle became one of the country’s most volatile flashpoints.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There were rebellions, insurrections and an Appian Way lined with crucifixions.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
-
By the 19th century China, under the Qing dynasty, had become weakened by internal rebellions, fiscal strain, and the aftermath of the Opium Wars, which exposed its inability to counter the industrialized military methods of the Western imperial powers.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That mobility occasionally allowed for communication and coordination during mutinies.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
8 Mar. 2026
-
This includes leader assassination attempts by political opponents or lone wolves or mutinies by disgruntled soldiers who might even march on the presidential palace to demand higher pay, promotions or other policy concessions.—
John Joseph Chin,
The Conversation,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Outbreaks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outbreaks. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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