ram·pant | \ ˈram-pənt 
also -ˌpant \
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
Illustration of rampant
rampant 1b: a lion rampant
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Synonyms & Antonyms for rampant
Synonyms
- abandoned,
- intemperate,
- raw,
- runaway,
- unbounded,
- unbridled,
- unchecked,
- uncontrolled,
- unhampered,
- unhindered,
- unrestrained
Antonyms
- bridled,
- checked,
- constrained,
- controlled,
- curbed,
- governed,
- hampered,
- hindered,
- restrained,
- temperate
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 And letting the virus run rampant would likely lead to recurring epidemics because there is no evidence that people are protected long-term after they have been infected, according to the letter.
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Madeline Holcombe, CNN, "Herd immunity is not the way out of the coronavirus pandemic, experts say," 15 Oct. 2020 And those numbers have undoubtedly increased as COVID-19 continues to run rampant.
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Lew Sichelman, courant.com, "Home businesses may violate zoning rules, local laws," 8 Oct. 2020 That has run rampant without any coherent federal policy to try to combat it?
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Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, "Trump's 'Don't be afraid of COVID' tweet may be the most irresponsible one in history," 5 Oct. 2020 Rumors and fear can run rampant among families when there is no information, said Sandra Freeman, an attorney who represents people incarcerated in jails and prisons throughout Colorado.
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Elise Schmelzer, The Denver Post, "Locked up with an invisible threat: Inmates and their families have little information, lots of fear amid coronavirus spread," 14 Apr. 2020 Several others were named along with Mr. LaPierre in the New York attorney general’s complaint, which alleged that corruption was rampant at the NRA and sought to dissolve the group.
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Mark Maremont And Aruna Viswanatha, WSJ, "IRS Investigating NRA’s Wayne LaPierre for Possible Tax Fraud," 5 Oct. 2020 Here, skepticism and even fear of government-direct health programs are rampant.
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Ellen Carmichael, National Review, "Vaccine Scare Tactics Are a Threat to Public Health," 30 Sep. 2020 The effort takes its most prominent form in the president’s own public statements, which relentlessly promote the false notion that voter fraud is rampant.
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Jim Rutenberg, New York Times, "How President Trump’s false claim of voter fraud is being used to disenfranchise Americans.," 30 Sep. 2020 Over the last 11 months, the country's currency has lost around 80% of its value, poverty has soared to over 50% and unrest on the streets has been rampant.
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Tamara Qiblawi, CNN, "Lebanon's PM-designate, named as part of French initiative to save the country, steps down," 26 Sep. 2020
See MoreThese 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.
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More Definitions for rampant
rampant
adjectiveEnglish Language Learners Definition of rampant
usually disapproving —used to describe something that is very common or that is spreading very quickly and in a way that is difficult to control
: growing quickly and in a way that is difficult to control
See the full definition for rampant in the English Language Learners Dictionary
rampant
adjectiveram·pant | \ ˈram-pənt \
\Kids Definition of rampant
: existing or growing greatly and quickly
Fear was rampant in the town.
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Time Traveler for rampant
The first known use of rampant was in the 14th century
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