outburst

noun

ˈau̇t-ˌbərst How to pronounce outburst (audio)
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
as in flurry
a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity there was a remarkable outburst of work in the office as the visiting VIPs made their tour

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 This woman reportedly had already been receiving unwanted and threatening messages, and investigators concluded that Zhou’s AI conversations showed something more than a momentary angry outburst. — Matthew T. Christ, Sun Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026 The 36-year-old Hubble also is dropping in orbit because of the sun’s recent outbursts. — Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026 Vásquez allowed both of his runs and both of his hits in one inning and finished seven for the second time this season, and a four-run outburst in the fifth inning lifted the Padres to a 6-2 victory over the Twins on Friday night at Petco Park. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026 The family drama is set during an idyllic island vacation that takes a tumultuous turn when a mother’s sudden physical outburst towards her 10-year-old son exposes hidden tensions and lingering conflicts within the family. — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for outburst
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outburst
  1. explosion
  2. flurry
  3. eruption
  4. burst
  5. flash
Noun
  • That has led to an explosion in interest in the annual Pacific leaders meeting, which has grown from a casual affair to a summit with 2,000 attendees.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026
  • More messages arrived over Discord, X, WhatsApp, and even from a colleague who had been asked by a friend to see whether Fabian would correct his story to say that the explosion had been caused by interceptor fragments.
    — Finn Brunton, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of explosion
Noun
  • The Miami Herald spoke with four Cubans and one Brazilian man who were sent as part of a flurry of deportation flights across Africa in August.
    — Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Ahead of the official start of the US Open, a flurry of fetes took place across New York City.
    — Paul Chi, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of flurry
Noun
  • Roads, vehicles and buildings in several villages in Karo affected by the eruption were covered in gray ash.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Seeing the Braves compete in this series with the Dodgers, from the walk-off win to the ace performances to the timely snags to Truist Park’s eruptions, hearkened back memories of October 2021.
    — Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of eruption
Noun
  • These are short, all-out bursts of exercise performed at an intensity higher than your maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂ max).
    — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Inflation eased in June and July, but a burst of on-again, off-again fighting in recent weeks caused crude prices to rise again.
    — Max Zahn, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of burst
Noun
  • The tribe, which requested a disaster declaration separately, was hit with flash flooding June 2-4 after a heavy rain and hail storm.
    — John Hult, States Newsroom, 3 Sep. 2026
  • But that terrible morning is still just a flash of memory away.
    — Jan Thacker, Outdoor Life, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of flash

Browse Nearby Words

outbreaks
outburst
outbursts
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Cite this Entry

“Outburst.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outburst. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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