anti-vax

adjective

an·​ti-vax
ˌan-tē-ˈvaks,
ˌan-ˌtī- How to pronounce anti-vax (audio)
variants or less commonly antivax
: anti-vaccination
Aggressive anti-vax campaigns claiming that vaccines are unsafe and can lead to autism—a theory long disproven—drive much of the vaccine hesitancy worldwide.Lily Hyde
The governor, who works hard to straddle the line between being antivax and merely being the friend of the anti-vaxxers, didn't mention the word "vaccine" in his address …News-Journal (Daytona Beach, Florida)

Examples of anti-vax in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Houry reported that vaccine advisors (likely Geier and Lyn Redwood, another anti-vaccine advocate and former leader of Kennedy’s anti-vax Children's Health Defense) were making recommendations before even reviewing data. Judy Stone, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025 One of White’s neighbors also told NBC News that White shared anti-vax sentiments with her on numerous occasions. Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 9 Aug. 2025 His anti-vax policies will kill people. Chris Brennan, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2025 Proving once again that anti-vax quack Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a threat to public health, confirmed measles cases in the United States have hit a 33-year high. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 9 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for anti-vax

Word History

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of anti-vax was in 1898

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Cite this Entry

“Anti-vax.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anti-vax. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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