as in virus
sickness that can be passed from one person, plant, or animal to another
The rumors spread like a contagion.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar 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 contagion
Research shows that emotional contagion isn’t limited to face-to-face encounters.
—
Mark Travers, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
His death fixation seems more of a motivation than does Angry Alan’s quasi logic, which grips him through his laptop—even though the director Sam Gold and the video designer Lucy Mackinnon underline these moments of contagion by flooding the stage with a projection of glitching red static.
—Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 13 June 2025
That's a technical term in public health for contagions that have been well-controlled for 12 months or more.
—Maria Godoy, NPR, 9 May 2025
Thursday's episode of the ABC first responder drama picked up in the middle of a contagion crisis.
—Patrick Gomez, EW.com, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contagion
Mark Travers, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
His death fixation seems more of a motivation than does Angry Alan’s quasi logic, which grips him through his laptop—even though the director Sam Gold and the video designer Lucy Mackinnon underline these moments of contagion by flooding the stage with a projection of glitching red static.
—Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 13 June 2025
That's a technical term in public health for contagions that have been well-controlled for 12 months or more.
—Maria Godoy, NPR, 9 May 2025
Thursday's episode of the ABC first responder drama picked up in the middle of a contagion crisis.
—Patrick Gomez, EW.com, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contagion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contagion
Noun
-
Research into giant ocean viruses is a rapidly evolving field.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
12 July 2025
-
Louisville's health department recommends care for both bite and non-bite rabies virus exposures, which includes a dose of human rabies immune globulin and a rabies vaccine series.—
Marina Johnson,
The Courier-Journal,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
This is in addition to the broader advice given the plague of text message attacks now targeting American citizens.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
-
The sylvatic plague is the same bacterium that causes bubonic and pneumonic plague in humans.—
Catherine Reagor,
AZCentral.com,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
Often the diseases have flu-like symptoms, such as a fever, headache or chills.—
Laura Gersony,
AZCentral.com,
8 July 2025
-
One historical account suggests salicylic acid was isolated from queen-of-the-prairie’s flowers in the 1830s, perhaps revealing why the plant’s flowers were used in tea to reduce fever and alleviate pain.—
Sheryl DeVore,
Chicago Tribune,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contagion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contagion. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share