outbreak
Epidemic's sudden start
An outbreak is a sudden occurrence or eruption of something undesirable—disease, violence, or conflict.
The word implies rapid spread from an origin point: an outbreak of cholera, an outbreak of fighting along the border.
Outbreak emphasizes the initial emergence; what follows might be called an epidemic or a war.
Widespread disease occurrence
- pandemicGlobal disease outbreak
- contagionDisease spread by contact
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
- plagueDeadly epidemic disease
influenza · cholera · typhoid · smallpox · tuberculosis · malaria · dengue · measles
Uncontrollable sudden fear
- fearEmotional response to threat
- alarmUrgent warning signal
- hysteriaUncontrollable emotional excess
- chaosComplete disorder and confusion
frenzy · anxiety · terror · mayhem · crisis · emergency · lockdown · evacuation
Sending of information
- proliferationRapid increase in quantity
- diffusionPassive molecular spreading
- propagationAct of spreading widely
- disseminationWide distribution of information
circulation · escalation · amplification · expansion · surge · spike · wave · flare-up
Armed struggle between groups
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- fightingEngaging in physical conflict
- combatArmed hostile engagement
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
battle · violence · insurgency · uprising · rebellion · aggression · clash · strife
Violent public disturbance
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
- lootingTheft during disorder
- vandalismWillful property damage
mob · civil unrest · barricade · curfew · crackdown · disturbance · social upheaval · strike
epidemic
Widespread disease occurrence
- pandemicGlobal disease outbreak
- contagionDisease spread by contact
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
plague · influenza · cholera · typhoid · smallpox · tuberculosis · malaria · dengue · measles · mumps
panic
Uncontrollable sudden fear
chaos · frenzy · anxiety · terror · mayhem · crisis · emergency · lockdown · evacuation · response
transmission
Sending of information
- proliferationRapid increase in quantity
- diffusionPassive molecular spreading
- propagationAct of spreading widely
dissemination · circulation · escalation · amplification · expansion · surge · spike · wave · flare-up · resurgence
war
Armed struggle between groups
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- fightingEngaging in physical conflict
- combatArmed hostile engagement
skirmish · battle · violence · insurgency · uprising · rebellion · aggression · clash · strife · confrontation
riot
Violent public disturbance
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
- lootingTheft during disorder
vandalism · mob · civil unrest · barricade · curfew · crackdown · disturbance · social upheaval · strike · agitation
- crisescrisis, emergency, disaster, natural disaster, catastrophe
- epidemicsepidemic, pandemic, disease, Black Death, cholera
- health crisespandemic, epidemic, health emergency, public health emergency, AIDS epidemic
- Black Deathbubonic plague, Black Death, plague doctors, buboes, Yersinia pestis
- choleracholera vaccine, diarrhea, rehydration, waterborne disease, contaminated water
- contagioncontagion, epidemic, pandemic, spreading, transmission
outbreakend
Final portion or cessation
ending · subsidence · conclusion · finale · resolution
outbreakcalm
Free from agitation
quiet · quiescence · tranquility · peace · order