breakthroughs
Leaps in progress
Breakthroughs are significant advances or discoveries that overcome obstacles previously blocking progress.
The term implies a barrier that has been penetrated—whether in science, medicine, technology, or personal development.
Researchers announced a breakthrough in cancer treatment.
A breakthrough can also describe a sudden moment of understanding or success after prolonged effort: After months of therapy, she finally had a breakthrough.
The word carries connotations of hard-won achievement rather than gradual improvement.
Act of finding something
- innovationCreating something original
- researchSystematic fact-finding effort
- eurekaDiscovery triumph cry
- laboratoryFacility for scientific investigation
experiment · hypothesis · Nobel Prize · peer review · publication · findings · paradigm shift · revelation
Creating something original
- inventionNew device or method
- prototypeFirst functional specimen
- engineeringDesigning functional systems scientifically
- disruptionForceful interruption of process
silicon · computing · automation · patent · startup · iteration · development · hardware
Sudden profound insight
- realizationGrasping what's true
- growthIncrease in size
- therapyCurative mental treatment
- healingRestoration of health
self-awareness · transformation · insight · clarity · overcoming · recovery · milestone · progress
Shared position between parties
- impasseSituation without resolution
- deadlockMutual blocking, no progress
- talksSpeaks with others
- diplomacyNegotiation between nations
compromise · resolution · stalemate · concession · progress · mediation · treaty · accord
Treatment that heals
- treatmentCare for an ailment
- vaccineDisease prevention injection
- therapyCurative mental treatment
- clinicalEmotionally detached, medically precise
diagnosis · remission · drug development · FDA approval · trials · patients · disease · pharmaceutical
discovery
Act of finding something
- innovationCreating something original
- researchSystematic fact-finding effort
- eurekaDiscovery triumph cry
laboratory · experiment · hypothesis · Nobel Prize · peer review · publication · findings · paradigm shift · revelation · milestone
innovation
Creating something original
- inventionNew device or method
- prototypeFirst functional specimen
- engineeringDesigning functional systems scientifically
disruption · silicon · computing · automation · patent · startup · iteration · development · hardware · software
epiphany
Sudden profound insight
- realizationGrasping what's true
- growthIncrease in size
- therapyCurative mental treatment
healing · self-awareness · transformation · insight · clarity · overcoming · recovery · milestone · progress · journey
agreement
Shared position between parties
diplomacy · compromise · resolution · stalemate · concession · progress · mediation · treaty · accord · settlement
cure
Treatment that heals
clinical · diagnosis · remission · drug development · FDA approval · trials · patients · disease · pharmaceutical · antibiotic
penetration
Entry into something
obstacle · wall · resistance · crossing · threshold · perimeter · defense · siege · offensive · advance
- next big thingsstartups, emerging markets, rising stars, trending topics, game changers
- creativityimagination, creativity, brainstorming, unique voice, inspiration
- Science stufftheories, discoveries, inventions, experiments, formulas
- achievementsaccomplishment, achievement, accomplishments, achievements, triumph
- historic momentsturning points, heroic act, triumphs, sacrifice, victories
- innovationinnovation, invention, innovative, innovate, innovator
breakthroughssetbacks
Reversals of progress
regressions · reversals · failures · defeats · collapses
breakthroughsstagnation
Absence of flow or progress
standstills · plateaus · dead ends · impasses · inertia
breakthroughsblockages
Things stopping flow
obstacles · roadblocks · barriers · bottlenecks · stalemates
- creative breakthroughsNovel solutions or ideas
- medical breakthroughSignificant advance in treatment
- scientific breakthrough
- breakthrough inventionCreation marking major progress
- breakthrough performanceActing debut earning recognition
- breakthrough momentDecisive instant of progress