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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in revolt
open fighting against authority (as one's own government)
the government quelled the outbreak with ruthless efficiency
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of outbreak
Wu said more than a dozen viruses are circulating, including adenoviruses and pertussis, which has caused outbreaks and fatalities in other parts of the country.
—
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 5 Jan. 2026
This would have been a great moment to reiterate how high immunization rates in surrounding communities protected them from infection despite the outbreak in Gaines County.
—Deborah L. Birx, STAT, 5 Jan. 2026
Several public health experts warned that the changes announced Monday could fuel outbreaks of preventable diseases.
—Sarah Owermohle, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
Because of an outbreak of equine herpesvirus, a contagious equine virus that can cause neurological and respiratory diseases, the decision was made to not have any horses or other equines in the parade.
—Tracy Trobridge, Baltimore Sun, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outbreak
Noun
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The 50-year mortgage proposal came amid a flurry of posts from Pulte, a member of one of America’s most prominent homebuilding families, who was fresh off a Friday appearance at ResiDay, a residential real estate conference hosted by ResiClub.—
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Prospect Avenue was renamed Hollywood Boulevard, and a flurry of tony hotels, palatial theaters and glitzy boutiques opened along the stretch between Vine Street and Highland Avenue.—
Noun
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Critiques from the American right, which lament the film’s timely depictions of a police state, immigrant internment camps and leftist revolt, read like ChatGPT essays programmed to write in the voice of Karen.—
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The film, which is Palestine’s entry for the Best International Feature category of the Oscars, tells the story of the Arab revolt against British colonial rule in Palestine in the 1930s.—
Noun
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The only constant is Mount Etna, looming off to one side, at times sputtering out smoke, ash, and short bursts of lava.—
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And yet, two-thirds into the song’s six-minute lurch, a beaming synth line appears like a biblical burst of light, a plea for sanctuary from perpetual chaos.—
Noun
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The host noted the date of the insurrection, following President Joe Biden's win over Trump in the 2020 election for president, early on.—
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In the days immediately following the insurrection, the country seemed almost unified in agreement that what had happened at the Capitol was violent and dark.—
Noun
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As 6-7 went viral, teachers complained that random outbursts by their students were interrupting their lessons.—
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Kerr, who was ejected in the loss to the Clippers, was not worried about how the league or his players would react to his outburst.—
Noun
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There was something in the beginning at least with that kind of uprising.—
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Many of the protesters in Iran’s 2026 uprising have rallied behind former Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, who has lived in exile since 1979.—
Noun
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Then who would be the Giants’ head coaching hire version of Wilson that would create a legit mutiny among its fan base?—
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But when her latest husband, discord spirit Raksh, provokes the council’s wrath, Amina must clean up his blunder, contend with Marjana’s demands for the truth…and figure out who on her crew is plotting a mutiny.—
Noun
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Many standard policies carve out exceptions for disruptions due to war, undeclared war, civil disorder, rebellion, military activity or government intervention, experts said.—
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Storytelling will never not be a form of rebellion.—
Cite this Entry
“Outbreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outbreak. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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