vampirism

noun

vam·​pir·​ism ˈvam-ˌpī(-ə)r-ˌi-zəm How to pronounce vampirism (audio)
1
: belief in vampires
2
: the actions of a vampire

Examples of vampirism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The film explores mortality, addiction, and family with a story that fuses vampirism with Cronenbergian body horror. Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 27 Nov. 2023 Are there only two paths for photography—vampirism and solipsism? Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2023 In doing so, Ms. Parker, whose character also dabbled in vampirism, and Mr. Frid helped expand the two-dimensional portrayals of vampires and witches seen in old Hollywood B-movies. Alex Williams, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2023 But this new wrinkle, where Guillermo is stuck in between humanity and vampirism, is so much more surprising and delightful. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 13 July 2023 Based on Spain’s first case of vampirism documented by the Catholic Church, a young woman is sent in 1755 to a cloistered monastery where several novices suffer a strange blood disease. John Hopewell, Variety, 5 Apr. 2023 In takes a couple of big creative swings, too, primarily with its choice to incorporate a pharmaceutical narrative centered around a company that is doing research into vampirism as a communicable disease and trying to find a cure. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2022 Homosexuality is not vampirism. Abc News, ABC News, 8 Mar. 2023 Unfortunately, the two-time Oscar winner has also never delivered such a broad, silly performance — a ghoulish Saturday Night Live caricature of showbiz vampirism. A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vampirism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of vampirism was circa 1796

Dictionary Entries Near vampirism

Cite this Entry

“Vampirism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vampirism. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

vampirism

noun
vam·​pir·​ism -ˌpī(ə)r-ˌiz-əm How to pronounce vampirism (audio)
: a sexual perversion in which gratification is obtained by the drawing of blood
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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