pandemic 1 of 2

noun

Definition of pandemicnext
as in epidemic
medical an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people over a wide area or throughout the world The 1918 flu pandemic claimed millions of lives. the AIDS pandemic

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pandemic

2 of 2

adjective

as in widespread

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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 pandemic
Noun
This is of particular importance to union members, who were unemployed while the theaters were closed during the pandemic, and then did not see wage increases for several years after, and are facing a high cost of living. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026 Makarim denied all charges, arguing that the prices paid were below market and that the internal evaluations were outdated and at odds with the urgent demands of schooling during the Covid-19 pandemic. — Chandra Asmara, Fortune, 30 June 2026
Adjective
Even so, the drugmaker's shares remain well below their pandemic-era record close of $484 in August 2021, as revenue from its Covid vaccine surged. — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 1 July 2026 In Johannesburg’s inner city, entire blocks fell silent as street vendors cleared out and retail shops pulled steel shutters down, conjuring up memories of the 2020 pandemic lockdowns. — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for pandemic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pandemic
  1. epidemic
  2. widespread
  3. pervasive
  4. prevalent
  5. general
  6. rife
  7. public
  8. prevailing
Noun
  • Historians estimate that the North American epidemic killed at least 100,000 to 130,000 people over several years.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • No disrespect to Meredith Marks, of course, but this Bravo DJ epidemic has gotten out of control.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 2 July 2026
Definition of epidemic
Adjective
  • It’s also widely seen as part of a broader vision to ensure national security under Xi, who came to power in 2012 following widespread 2008 protests in Tibet and deadly unrest in Xinjiang, home to its Uyghur minority.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
  • Polis decided to commute Peters' sentence last month, drawing widespread criticism from Colorado Democrats, including both Weiser and Bennet.
    — Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Definition of widespread
Adjective
  • The author contrasts the unifying spirit of the 1976 Bicentennial with today's pervasive division, despite significant advancements in rights for women, minorities, and the disabled.
    — Sophia A. Nelson, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Americans in the crowd agreed among themselves that heat isn’t the problem; the pervasive lack of air conditioning is.
    — Justin Worland, Time, 26 June 2026
Definition of pervasive
Adjective
  • The couple’s desire for privacy was prevalent at their New York City wedding, where both the couple's and their guests’ security was prioritized.
    — Bella DeCrescenzo, The Providence Journal, 4 July 2026
  • The Elora bathroom boasts the type of hybrid wet/dry layout that has become increasingly prevalent in Europe and gained a little steam in the US.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 July 2026
Definition of prevalent
Adjective
  • Little’s lack of response to a possible return that offseason resulted in general manager Ned Colletti pursuing other options.
    — Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • While unions secured general salary increases last year to offset the salary reductions associated with the leave program, the agreements did not include similar increases in July 2026.
    — William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of general
Adjective
  • Trump has repeatedly called for this prohibition, falsely claiming that mail-in voting is rife with fraud.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2026
  • Isakov spoke of the pain his parents had endured, his nine siblings having died young in the 1930s and 1940s, when poverty and disease were rife across the region.
    — Colin Millar, New York Times, 27 June 2026
Definition of rife
Adjective
  • At one point, Weist describes uncovering that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani maintained a fine-art photography practice while simultaneously waging a highly public censorship battle against the Brooklyn Museum.
    — Rhoda Feng, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • Our real estate data comes from public records that have been registered and digitized by local county offices.
    — Bay Area Home Report, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
Definition of public
Adjective
  • The group noted the projection was revised upward from an earlier estimate owing to an additional year in the budget window and higher prevailing interest rates.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Likewise, prevailing concepts of Hamlet at the time cast the prince as a wan and melancholic, leading critics to bristle at Bernhardt’s energy.
    — Betsy Golden Kellem, JSTOR Daily, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of prevailing

Browse Nearby Words

pancakes
pandemic
pandemics
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Cite this Entry

“Pandemic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pandemic. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pandemic

Nglish: Translation of pandemic for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pandemic

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