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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of epidemic
arkansasonline.com, 3 July 2025
Synan has become a local expert on the heroin epidemic, after espousing treatment instead of jail.
—Elizabeth B. Kim, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Scott White, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for epidemic
Adjective
In May 2023, Murthy declared loneliness the latest public health epidemic.
—arkansasonline.com, 3 July 2025
Synan has become a local expert on the heroin epidemic, after espousing treatment instead of jail.
—Elizabeth B. Kim, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Noun
The number of colleges cutting back programs, merging and closing has reached epidemic proportions.
—Scott White, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for epidemic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for epidemic
Adjective
-
Highlife arose in the Fante coast of Ghana in the 19th century, where natives curated infectious polyrhythms through primarily brass instruments, local drums, guitars, the Akan Seprewa—some which derived from Caribbean soldiers and British military brass bands.—
Ime Ekpo,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
-
The rate of spread would be different based on how infectious the disease is and the effectiveness of the vaccine, as well as the vaccination rates.—
Nicole Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
Both markets exploded briefly during the pandemic, with home prices surging way beyond what locals could afford.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 July 2025
-
During the pandemic, the antiparasitic drug ivermectin gained traction as a possible COVID treatment because there were mechanistic reasons to think the drug might work.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
15 July 2025
Noun
-
On July 9, USGS said the most recent eruption had ended.—
Elizabeth Weise,
USA Today,
14 July 2025
-
It is believed that in most cases, the eruption completely destroys the white dwarf.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
2 July 2025
Noun
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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
-
The Yankees’ double-digit explosion on a rainy night provided plenty of breathing room for a bullpen that has been taxed and decimated by injuries.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
9 July 2025
-
The Esparto Fire Protection District responded to the scene, but could not engage the explosions coming from within the warehouse, and so set about stopping the fire raging across the valley floor.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 July 2025
Noun
-
While pestilence crept over the walls of cities and the countryside fell into desolation—many foreign conquerors of Europe knew how to fight and plunder but not to plow or sow—the monks preserved words.—
Bernd Roeck
June 16,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2025
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In recent years, the censorship and false narratives of woke cancel culture have transformed our great universities into greenhouses for this deadly and virulent pestilence.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Prior to the start of the club’s recent upswing on June 7 Red Sox starters ranked 25th in MLB with a 4.53 ERA.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
13 July 2025
-
Recent upswing included an 11-game road win streak.—
Greg Cote
July 13,
Miami Herald,
13 July 2025
Noun
-
In Porter County, 1,420 students used vouchers, a 302-student increase from the previous year.—
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
14 July 2025
-
The likelihood of lightning increases as a thunderstorm gets closer and reaches its highest point when the storm is directly overhead.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Epidemic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/epidemic. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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