superbug
noun
su·per·bug
ˈsü-pər-ˌbəg 
: a pathogenic microorganism and especially a bacterium that has developed resistance to the medications normally used against it
Examples of superbug in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That’s because doctors must prescribe new antibiotics as sparingly as possible to slow the spread of superbugs.
—
Howard Dean, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2024
The threat of those lurking superbugs is realized in the case report of the Ukrainian soldier, a man in his mid-50s.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 11 July 2023
Antibiotic-resistant superbugs claim the lives of more than 1 million people globally each year.
—Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 6 Jan. 2024
For the first time in half a century, researchers have identified a new antibiotic that appears to kill a deadly, drug-resistant superbug.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2024
Even among growing fear of superbugs, antibiotic use in livestock in the U.S. — including drugs that are medically important for humans — is on the rise.
—Anagha Babu, Hartford Courant, 15 Jan. 2024
Beyond preventing it from escalating, pharmaceutical companies also need to treat the existing effects of climate change on human health–especially the superbugs and infectious diseases that are already running rampant.
—Jayasree K. Iyer, Fortune, 11 Dec. 2023
Moreover, the superbugs that are already here also need to be treated.
—Jayasree K. Iyer, Fortune, 11 Dec. 2023
And now, to fight off superbugs, scientists are increasingly turning to another unorthodox source of germ-killers: healthy poop.
—Popular Science, 1 Nov. 2023
Howard Dean, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2024
The threat of those lurking superbugs is realized in the case report of the Ukrainian soldier, a man in his mid-50s.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 11 July 2023
Antibiotic-resistant superbugs claim the lives of more than 1 million people globally each year.
—Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 6 Jan. 2024
For the first time in half a century, researchers have identified a new antibiotic that appears to kill a deadly, drug-resistant superbug.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2024
Even among growing fear of superbugs, antibiotic use in livestock in the U.S. — including drugs that are medically important for humans — is on the rise.
—Anagha Babu, Hartford Courant, 15 Jan. 2024
Beyond preventing it from escalating, pharmaceutical companies also need to treat the existing effects of climate change on human health–especially the superbugs and infectious diseases that are already running rampant.
—Jayasree K. Iyer, Fortune, 11 Dec. 2023
Moreover, the superbugs that are already here also need to be treated.
—Jayasree K. Iyer, Fortune, 11 Dec. 2023
And now, to fight off superbugs, scientists are increasingly turning to another unorthodox source of germ-killers: healthy poop.
—Popular Science, 1 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'superbug.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Superbug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superbug. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
superbug
noun
su·per·bug
ˈsü-pər-ˌbəg
: a pathogenic microorganism and especially a bacterium that has developed resistance to the medications normally used against it
The rise of superbugs that can survive multiple antibiotics—such as MRSA, the notorious "flesh-eating bacterium"—has turned once-trivial infections into persistent problems.—Valerie Ross, Discover
Valerie Ross, DiscoverLove words? Need even more definitions?
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