as in virus
sickness that can be passed from one person, plant, or animal to another
The rumors spread like a contagion.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contagion
Lyn Sheil as a young woman whose fear of her own death begins spreading like a contagion throughout her new community.
—
Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 31 Mar. 2025
This suggests that emotional contagion operates beyond physical presence.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Backlash to trans rights had swollen into one of the animating causes of the Republican Party, whose leaders were evangelizing the notion that gender nonconformity was a social contagion that targeted children and threatened to undermine civilization itself.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 22 May 2025
This season’s climb was burdened after an injury contagion and six red cards.
—Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for contagion
Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 31 Mar. 2025
This suggests that emotional contagion operates beyond physical presence.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Backlash to trans rights had swollen into one of the animating causes of the Republican Party, whose leaders were evangelizing the notion that gender nonconformity was a social contagion that targeted children and threatened to undermine civilization itself.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 22 May 2025
This season’s climb was burdened after an injury contagion and six red cards.
—Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for contagion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contagion
Noun
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The measles virus was recently detected in wastewater samples collected by the Sacramento Area Sewer District.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
6 June 2025
-
The virus didn't originate in Hawaii, but was brought there by an infected traveler.—
Katie Nadworny,
Travel + Leisure,
6 June 2025
Noun
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The pathogen has fueled three major plague pandemics since the first century AD, and though its deadliest years appear to be behind us, plague hasn’t disappeared.—
Mindy Weisberger,
CNN Money,
3 June 2025
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The results revealed that pla depletion decreases the virulence and increases the length of plague infections in mice.—
Sam Walters,
Discover Magazine,
31 May 2025
Noun
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Typical symptoms include respiratory issues such as cough and sore throat, as well as systemic issues like fever and fatigue.—
Paula Cohen,
CBS News,
13 June 2025
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Healthy people can still experience short-term symptoms like fever, intense headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contagion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contagion. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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