1
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
Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026
There’s a male-loneliness epidemic!
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026
Trisha Swift, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
But some researchers say the response should not be limited to the epidemic hot spots in big cities.
—Byjon Cohen, science.org, 9 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for epidemic
Noun
The Ngogo researchers hypothesize that the death of several chimps due to unknown causes in 2014, a 2015 change in the alpha male and a respiratory epidemic in 2017 had led social ties to weaken and the group to splinter.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026
There’s a male-loneliness epidemic!
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
From Breath To Burnout The early identification of imbalances caused by chronic stress resonates deeply in our current health climate, where burnout, emotional exhaustion and cognitive fatigue are silently epidemic.
—Trisha Swift, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
But some researchers say the response should not be limited to the epidemic hot spots in big cities.
—Byjon Cohen, science.org, 9 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for epidemic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for epidemic
Noun
-
Spirit, which has struggled to make money since the Covid pandemic, is going through its second bankruptcy court proceedings.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Morens made the news when some of his emails were made public during inquiries about the origins of the pandemic.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The eruptions – yours, the partner’s – suggest that there’s a lot that’s been simmering underneath your interactions.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The eruptions — yours, the partner’s — suggest that there’s a lot that’s been simmering underneath your interactions.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Hernandez said that Stribling has an infectious smile and personality that draws people to him.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
25 Apr. 2026
-
If some of the stuff in his lungs was infectious, maybe he could be treated and get home.—
Elisabeth Rosenthal,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Hevia said the issues plague fire stations across the city.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Another kind of typhus, carried by lice and caused by the bacteria Rickettsia prowazekii, produced historic plagues that devastated populations during times of war, famine and poverty, the National Institutes for Health said.—
Don Sweeney
April 8,
Sacbee.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
After a faulty cooling system was left to disrepair, rising temperatures resulted in an explosion with the equivalent force of 70-100 tons of TNT.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
-
To locals, Soviet leaders seemed to be downplaying the severity of the explosion.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Parks turned into deserts, great skyscrapers leveled by blows from the tails of the monsters, and the entire population threatened in the panic and pestilence that followed the invasion.—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Horses, donkeys, camels, and herds and flocks of other livestock die from the pestilence.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and food prices are all on the upswing — big time.—
Nick Akerman,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Defenders of the rich payouts point to the upswing in the broader markets, and indeed the rise in value for stock and option awards contributed significantly to CEOs’ comp levels.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Rain chances increase this afternoon with a focus from midafternoon through a bit beyond sunset expected.—
Ian Livingston,
Washington Post,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The Pentagon's budget request this year also asked for more than $70 billion to procure missiles and related equipment, a nearly threefold increase compared to last year.—
James LaPorta,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Epidemic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/epidemic. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
