OUTBREAKS Synonyms: 59 Similar and Opposite Words

outbreaks

noun

plural of outbreak

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

as in insurrections

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

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 outbreaks Were those outbreaks traced to flooding from unusually heavy rainfall, leaking roofs, inadequate humidity control or some combination of factors? — Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026 The outbreak has disrupted essential health services that are already underfunded and overstretched and has shifted attention away from other disease outbreaks the country is battling, such as cholera. — ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026 The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a rare variant of Ebola, is spreading faster than previous outbreaks and has become the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2026 While many people are currently immune through vaccination, outbreaks can increase in size and frequency if immunization rates decline over a longer period. — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026 The countries that still see polio outbreaks are places where not enough people have gotten the preventive vaccine. — Katrine L. Wallace, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026 Together, these approaches transformed the fight against a disease that once caused widespread paralysis and outbreaks, particularly among children. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026 That milder ocean air should make prolonged Arctic outbreaks harder to sustain, although shorter bursts of cold remain possible. — Sam Hart, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026 As part of a 2025 agreement, the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food agreed to share information about bird flu outbreaks on farms — so long as the health officials didn’t do anything to track workers’ health. — Nat Lash, ProPublica, 23 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for outbreaks

Noun

Similarly, flurries and snow showers are expected in the Upper Midwest, along with chillier-than-normal temperatures.

— Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 21 Oct. 2026
And a colleague spotted on a webcam video what appeared to be flurries at Beech Mountain Saturday morning.

— Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of flurries

Noun

That means far less rolling-shutter wobble, along with bursts of up to 20 frames per second (fps) for as many as 200 frames.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2026
Still, the episodes move along so fast and the bursts of talent emerge with enough frequency that Minimum Wage makes for an amusing, energetic, instantly disposable binge.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of bursts

Noun

His teeth desert his mouth; his digestion revolts; his heart appears frequently to announce its forthcoming resignation.

— Zain Khalid, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
Voice had been exercised repeatedly at annual general meetings, say-on-pay revolts had forced concessions and proxy advisors had opposed management with escalating frequency.

— Albana Vrioni, Forbes.com, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of revolts

Noun

The fines could be rescinded if the coaches avoid sideline outbursts for the rest of the season, as the league calls for more civil interactions between coaches, players and officials.

— Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
From harassing Brady over his divorce from Gisele Bündchen on social media to trying to be a rapper and much more, Brown’s post-football life has been one filled with public outbursts and controversial statements and stunts.

— Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of outbursts

Noun

France's post-revolution history is not a solid story of protests and reforms, but of cycles of popular uprisings, repression, mobilization and political concessions.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026
From 1896 to 1897, the region experienced what would come to be known as the First Chimurenga, a period of uprisings by the Indigenous Ndebele and Shona people against colonial policies.

— Chinatsu Tsuji, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of uprisings

Noun

Before, the two forces had been allies, working together to crush rebellions in Darfur, but also pro-democracy movements that sprung up after the ouster of Sudanese dictator Omar Al-Bashir in 2019.

— Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Throughout this season, Camille and her conversations with The Algorithm make mention of other rebellions.

— Hunter Ingram, Variety, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of rebellions

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

Definition of mutinies

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“Outbreaks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outbreaks. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of outbreaks

noun

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