metastasize
verb
me·tas·ta·size
mə-ˈta-stə-ˌsīz 
metastasized; metastasizing
: to spread or grow by or as if by metastasis
… died of lung cancer which had metastasized throughout his body.—
G. P. Elliott
G. P. ElliottExamples of metastasize in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
On the left, that dislike has metastasized into an all-out fury, which is manifesting itself in all kinds of intolerable ways.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2026
Experts fear the security crisis could soon metastasize beyond Nigeria’s borders.
—semafor.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Civil society, educators, law enforcement, technology platforms and international partners must work together to prevent hatred from metastasizing into violence.
—Brian Siegal, Sun Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026
Debra was in remission for 15 years after a bone marrow transplant, chemotherapy, breast surgery and radiation sessions, though her cancer eventually returned and metastasized.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for metastasize
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Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2026
Experts fear the security crisis could soon metastasize beyond Nigeria’s borders.
—semafor.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Civil society, educators, law enforcement, technology platforms and international partners must work together to prevent hatred from metastasizing into violence.
—Brian Siegal, Sun Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026
Debra was in remission for 15 years after a bone marrow transplant, chemotherapy, breast surgery and radiation sessions, though her cancer eventually returned and metastasized.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for metastasize
Cite this Entry
“Metastasize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metastasize. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
metastasize
verb
me·tas·ta·size
mə-ˈtas-tə-ˌsīz
: to spread or grow by or as if by metastasis
Medical Definition
metastasize
intransitive verb
me·tas·ta·size
variants
also British metastasise
metastasized also British metastasised; metastasizing also British metastasising
: to spread by metastasis
… all ten were primary brain cancers; that is, they had originated in the brain, and not metastasized there from elsewhere in the body.—Paul Brodeur, The New Yorker
Paul Brodeur, The New YorkerLove words? Need even more definitions?
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