epidemic 1 of 2

epidemic

2 of 2

adjective

as in infectious
exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others the little girl's giggles were epidemic, and soon the entire gathering was laughing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of epidemic
Noun
Just about everywhere, a hidden epidemic of shelter death lurks. Calmatters, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2025 The agency also helps improve government policies and invest in research and development to contain and address epidemics and pandemics. Nicole Hassoun, The Conversation, 25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
Many of the province’s early cases of COVID-19 were linked to pilgrims who had been in Iran, the world’s leading Shiite power and an early epidemic hot spot, as well as a regional antagonist to Riyadh. Geneive Abdo, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2020 One way to disrupt the epidemic potential is to eliminate the virus in sewage. Mark Kortepeter, Forbes, 4 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for epidemic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for epidemic
Noun
  • Vacancy began to drop in the pandemic, then fell even more sharply in 2021.
    Bill Conerly, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Ever since the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s been much harder for economists to nail down economic forecasts.
    Alicia Wallace, CNN, 6 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • While such an eruption of fires is rare, Wood, the South Carolina Forestry Commission spokesperson, told NBC affiliate WCBD of Charleston over the weekend that the region is in peak fire season weather.
    Dennis Romero, NBC News, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Instead, based on observations of more recent eruptions, an extremely hot ash cloud that dissipated quickly could have created the conditions necessary for the vitrification of human brain tissue to occur, the study concluded.
    Katie Hunt, CNN, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • This high rate of vaccination is needed because measles is the most infectious virus transmitted through the respiratory route – through coughing and sneezing.
    Professor David R. Hill, Hartford Courant, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Measles is so highly infectious that 95% immunity is required to prevent epidemics, the WHO says.
    ASSOCIATED PRESS, TIME, 27 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • According to Stanford historian Walter Scheidel, over the past 2,000 years, only four forces have reversed growing economic inequality: mass-mobilization warfare, transformative revolutions, state collapse, and catastrophic plagues.
    The Sorenson Impact Institute, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
  • The progress is undone; however, when two kids' excursion into an infected zone sets events in motion, the zombie plague spread throughout the community.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Given the explosion of WNBA collectibles — a Caitlin Clark rookie card sold for $234,850 back in December, or roughly the current max salary a WNBA player can earn under the current CBA — this is some extremely high-value territory.
    Howard Megdal, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Plans for the upcoming flight test, which SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced this week, come a little more than a month since the last Starship launch ended in an explosion minutes after lifting off from Starbase in South Texas.
    Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Being omnivorous, with a very long and efficient gut, humans coped better than other mammals in the face of pestilence and drought, the better to ensure our survival.
    John Mariani, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
  • Disease, pestilence and death: Has unsealing King Tut's tomb unleashed an ancient curse? Fox Nation's 'Tales of Terror: The Curse of King Tut' unravels the media frenzy after the uncovering of the Egyptian pharaoh's ancient tomb and the devastation that followed.
    Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 4 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Even though ratings have been on an upswing, with last year’s edition the most-viewed since 2020, in historical terms the current universe of possible audience is significantly diminished.
    Dade Hayes, Deadline, 2 Mar. 2025
  • Bloom 21-8 (5) Blazing Trojans and Jayla Tyler enter week on upswing with seven-game winning streak.
    Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The top three contributors to hydroplaning are: Vehicle speed - When a vehicle's speed increases, the tire-traction grip and ability to control the vehicle decreases.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Mar. 2025
  • This is an increase from 23.1% and 12.1% in previous years, respectively.
    Iris Dorbian, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Epidemic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/epidemic. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on epidemic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!