Illustration of rampant
- a lion rampant
1
a
: rearing upon the hind legs with forelegs extended
b
: standing on one hind foot with one foreleg raised above the other and the head in profile
—used of a heraldic animal
2
a
: marked by a menacing wildness, extravagance, or absence of restraint
rampant rumors
b
: profusely widespread
rampant weeds
rampantly
adverb
Examples of rampant in a Sentence
a weed that's rampant in this area
the mayor promised to put a stop to the rampant crime that plagued the city
Recent Examples on the Web
Croatia dropped the kuna in 2023, and the change was met with widespread stories about rampant inflation — perhaps explaining other countries’ reluctance — although the European Central Bank said that price rises continued on existing trends.
—
Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 5 Feb. 2026
During Operation Midway Blitz last fall, unprovoked violence by CBP and ICE was rampant — and often captured on video.
—Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
The city’s budget and audit committee approved a motion Tuesday to explore the creation of a new policy that would find holes within Sacramento’s framework to address rampant littering in public spaces.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 4 Feb. 2026
His relationship with film is inextricably linked with his home town, Recife—a port city where attractive beaches and high-rise developments coexist with sprawling favelas and rampant crime.
—Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rampant
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Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 5 Feb. 2026
During Operation Midway Blitz last fall, unprovoked violence by CBP and ICE was rampant — and often captured on video.
—Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
The city’s budget and audit committee approved a motion Tuesday to explore the creation of a new policy that would find holes within Sacramento’s framework to address rampant littering in public spaces.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 4 Feb. 2026
His relationship with film is inextricably linked with his home town, Recife—a port city where attractive beaches and high-rise developments coexist with sprawling favelas and rampant crime.
—Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rampant
Cite this Entry
“Rampant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rampant. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rampant
adjective
ram·pant
ˈram-pənt 
also -ˌpant
1
: standing on the hind legs like a horse rearing
2
: not checked in growth or spread
rumor ran rampant
rampantly
adverb
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