rampant

adjective

ram·pant | \ ˈram-pənt also -ˌpant

Definition of rampant

1a : rearing upon the hind legs with forelegs extended

b : standing on one hind foot with one foreleg raised above the other and the head in profile —used of a heraldic animal

2a : marked by a menacing wildness, extravagance, or absence of restraint rampant rumors

b : profusely widespread rampant weeds

Other Words from rampant Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about rampant

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Examples of rampant in a Sentence

a weed that's rampant in this area the mayor promised to put a stop to the rampant crime that plagued the city

Recent Examples on the Web

Widespread frustration over rampant unemployment and poverty has boiled over into strikes and demonstrations. — Washington Post, "Why Post-Mugabe Zimbabwe Remains Mired in Misery," 18 Sep. 2019 Playing catch up with the rampant Reds is not a good place to be in. — SI.com, "Why Aymeric Laporte's Injury Makes Liverpool Favourites for the Premier League Title," 14 Sep. 2019 Warren also unsurprisingly offered one of the best points of the brief segment, pointing to the rampant corruption that defines the deep-rooted relationship Congress and American politics have with the fossil fuel industry. — Nick Martin, The New Republic, "It’s Not That Hard to Have a Substantive Exchange About Global Warming," 13 Sep. 2019 But today the Amazon stands close to a tipping point, as rampant deforestation combines with climate change to threaten the rain forest’s very existence. — Time, "'Inside the Amazon: The Dying Forest' AR Experience," 12 Sep. 2019 Experience has acquainted thousands of Americans with a disturbing trend: Identity theft is a rampant crime. — Patty Limerick, The Denver Post, "Limerick: Defending words from identity theft," 12 Sep. 2019 There was rampant expectation among those who follow it closely that Taiwan might be invited to join, which would be another logical progression. — Therese Shaheen, National Review, "The Need to Clarify and Strengthen Our Relationship with Taiwan," 11 Sep. 2019 After the hiatus, Chaplin’s crew realized that, due to rampant development, their Hollywood location was no longer suitable. — Katherine Yamada, Glendale News-Press, "Verdugo Views: Charlie Chaplin’s time filming ‘The Circus’ had comedic moments of its own," 5 Sep. 2019 Because people seem to lose their minds while driving on 280. Rear-end collisions are rampant due to people texting or attempting to do their makeup while manning a moving vehicle. — Birmingham Magazine, al, "Birmingham magazine’s Best and Worst of Birmingham," 3 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rampant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.