as in improvement
an instance of notable progress in the development of knowledge, technology, or skill
Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin was one of medicine's great breakthroughs, for penicillin became the first antibiotic to successfully combat bacterial infections in humans
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Recent Examples of breakthrough
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) scientists made the breakthrough after narrowing down drug candidates to two viable compounds.
—
New Atlas, 19 Mar. 2025
After an initial hostage deal in November 2023 failed to yield a wider breakthrough, people gradually began to question whether Netanyahu’s primary interest was to prolong the war in the belief that doing so might be the best way to save his political career and revive his assault on the judiciary.
—Asher Kaufman, The Conversation, 19 Mar. 2025
Instead, breakthrough technology was used where the flower’s scent is released under a glass dome and the molecules in the air are measured.
—Fiona Embleton, Glamour, 18 Mar. 2025
Finally, a breakthrough came by combining several technologies such as position sensing, speaker beamforming and adaptive crosstalk cancellation.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for breakthrough
New Atlas, 19 Mar. 2025
After an initial hostage deal in November 2023 failed to yield a wider breakthrough, people gradually began to question whether Netanyahu’s primary interest was to prolong the war in the belief that doing so might be the best way to save his political career and revive his assault on the judiciary.
—Asher Kaufman, The Conversation, 19 Mar. 2025
Instead, breakthrough technology was used where the flower’s scent is released under a glass dome and the molecules in the air are measured.
—Fiona Embleton, Glamour, 18 Mar. 2025
Finally, a breakthrough came by combining several technologies such as position sensing, speaker beamforming and adaptive crosstalk cancellation.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for breakthrough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breakthrough
Noun
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While the informal trade talks continue, the U.S. market has shown signs of improvement.—
Vanessa Gera and Kerstin Sopke,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2025
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This is a nice improvement, though short of Apple's 10-hour estimate.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
29 Mar. 2025
Noun
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On the Telegram messenger app, the RSF said its forces were making advances towards the Army General Command, also in central Khartoum, and eyewitnesses said the force was attacking from southern Khartoum.—
Reuters,
CNN,
20 Mar. 2025
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Carrying less water by finding spots to fill up in advance can save full pounds.—
Alice Bennett,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In a stunning display of technological advancement, China's Unitree Robotics has unveiled its latest feat, a humanoid robot that can perform kung fu moves with astonishing precision and balance.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
23 Mar. 2025
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In the 2000s, advancements in DNA sequencing led to a swell of genetic research that found that about two-thirds of those familial cases are connected to a handful of genetic mutations.—
Shayla Love,
The Atlantic,
23 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Breakthrough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breakthrough. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
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