irruption
Violent bursting in
An irruption is a sudden, forceful entry or invasion—a bursting in.
Armies irrupt into territory; protesters irrupt into buildings.
In ecology, irruption describes a rapid population explosion, especially when animals suddenly appear in areas where they're normally scarce: an irruption of snowy owls in the Northeast.
The verb is irrupt.
Compare eruption, which bursts out rather than in.
Break apart suddenly
- outburstSudden emotional release
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
- flare-upSudden recurrence of symptoms
- blowupSudden fit of rage
gush · spurt · emission · discharge · outpouring · upheaval · paroxysm · convulsion
Sudden large arrival
Hostile territorial penetration
- intrusionUnauthorized entry into space
- raidSudden armed incursion
- inroadGradual hostile encroachment
- encroachmentGradual intrusion on territory
assault · attack · offensive · siege · foray · breach · penetration · onslaught
Violent burst of energy
- upsurgeRapid marked increase
- spikeSharp rise or point
- proliferationRapid increase in quantity
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
boom · swell · escalation · increase · upswing · multiplication · expansion · amplification
Not anticipated beforehand
- unforeseenNot predicted or expected
- unanticipatedNot predicted beforehand
- spontaneousArising without external cause
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
surprise · unpredictable · startling · precipitous · violent · forceful · dramatic · rapid
burst
Break apart suddenly
- outburstSudden emotional release
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
- flare-upSudden recurrence of symptoms
blowup · gush · spurt · emission · discharge · outpouring · upheaval · paroxysm · convulsion
influx
Sudden large arrival
- dispersalSpreading in many directions
- flywayEstablished bird migration path
- migratoryRegularly moving between regions
outbreak · colonization · population boom · swarm · flock
incursion
Hostile territorial penetration
encroachment · assault · attack · offensive · siege · foray · breach · penetration · onslaught · infiltration
explosion
Violent burst of energy
- upsurgeRapid marked increase
- spikeSharp rise or point
- proliferationRapid increase in quantity
outbreak · boom · swell · escalation · increase · upswing · multiplication · expansion · amplification · intensification
unexpected
Not anticipated beforehand
- unforeseenNot predicted or expected
- unanticipatedNot predicted beforehand
- spontaneousArising without external cause
shock · surprise · unpredictable · startling · precipitous · violent · forceful · dramatic · rapid · swift
irruptionretreat
Sanctuary or withdrawal
withdrawal · exodus · departure · evacuation · egress
irruptionseepage
Slow fluid escape
infiltration · percolation · trickle · osmosis · diffusion
irruptionpopulation crash
Sudden drop in numbers
die-off · emigration · extirpation · dispersal · outmigration
corrupt, abrupt, corruption, disrupt, interrupt, erupt, eruption, rupture, interruption