anti-vaccine
adjective
anti-vac·cine
ˌan-tē-vak-ˈsēn 
ˌan-ˌtī-
ˌan-ˌtī-
-ˈvak-ˌsēn
variants
or less commonly antivaccine
: opposed to the use of vaccines
A handful of parents and anti-vaccine activists told lawmakers … that they believe vaccines are responsible for countless cases of autism, learning disabilities and death.—
Jim Hughes
Jim Hughes… the rising global threat of antivaccine sentiments and vaccine misinformation contributed to the WHO [=World Health Organization] classifying vaccine hesitancy as a top ten global health threat in 2019 …—David M. Higgins and Sean T. O'Leary
David M. Higgins and Sean T. O'LearyExamples of anti-vaccine in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The anti-vaccine rhetoric, and the efforts to revise laws and regulations, rumbled along at the state health department, and in the legislature.
—Kerry Sheridan, NPR, 28 Apr. 2026
The anti-vaccine stance of MAGA is simply wrong.
—Arthur Caplan, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
The White House has reportedly encouraged Kennedy to focus more on the healthy-food aspects of his MAHA agenda this year instead of his divisive anti-vaccine policies.
—Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
Kennedy, who has no background in science, medicine, or public health, is well known as an ardent anti-vaccine activist and peddler of conspiracy theories.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 23 Apr. 2026
But this lull in anti-vaccine rhetoric and action should not be mistaken for a durable pivot in federal vaccine policy.
—Will Walters, STAT, 23 Apr. 2026
Fast forward to 2025, and Trump has appointed as the U.S. secretary of health an anti-vaccine activist who champions debunked scientific theories and insists that mRNA vaccine technology is dangerous, despite its proven efficacy.
—Nataliya Gumenyuk, The Dial, 21 Apr. 2026
Houry noted political appointees and Kennedy allies from his days leading the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense are still entrenched at HHS.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 18 Apr. 2026
Kennedy co-founded the anti-vaccine group Children's Health Defense, and has linked vaccines to autism, a theory long debunked by scientific research.
—Mariam Sunny, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
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.
Kerry Sheridan, NPR, 28 Apr. 2026
The anti-vaccine stance of MAGA is simply wrong.
—Arthur Caplan, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
The White House has reportedly encouraged Kennedy to focus more on the healthy-food aspects of his MAHA agenda this year instead of his divisive anti-vaccine policies.
—Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
Kennedy, who has no background in science, medicine, or public health, is well known as an ardent anti-vaccine activist and peddler of conspiracy theories.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 23 Apr. 2026
But this lull in anti-vaccine rhetoric and action should not be mistaken for a durable pivot in federal vaccine policy.
—Will Walters, STAT, 23 Apr. 2026
Fast forward to 2025, and Trump has appointed as the U.S. secretary of health an anti-vaccine activist who champions debunked scientific theories and insists that mRNA vaccine technology is dangerous, despite its proven efficacy.
—Nataliya Gumenyuk, The Dial, 21 Apr. 2026
Houry noted political appointees and Kennedy allies from his days leading the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense are still entrenched at HHS.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 18 Apr. 2026
Kennedy co-founded the anti-vaccine group Children's Health Defense, and has linked vaccines to autism, a theory long debunked by scientific research.
—Mariam Sunny, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anti-vaccine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anti-vaccine. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
