run rampant
idiom
: to be very common or to spread very quickly and in a way that is difficult to control
Rumors of her engagement ran rampant.
Examples of run rampant in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the digital age, when unverified claims run rampant on social media, fact-checking is no longer a responsibility reserved solely for journalists.
—
Kyler Alvord, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025
Throughout the Grimm Brothers’ fairy tales, published in two volumes between 1812 and 1815, disciplinary fantasies run rampant.
—Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025
By allegedly allowing bots to run rampant, Spotify can present high stream and user activity numbers to potential advertisers, the lawsuit alleges.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025
The narratives have started to run rampant leading up to the conclusion of the MLB season, and especially with the Dodgers' league-leading payroll and murmurs of an MLB lockout in 2027, one that has begun gaining traction, is that the Dodgers are Goliath and the Blue Jays are David.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for run rampant
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.
Kyler Alvord, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025
Throughout the Grimm Brothers’ fairy tales, published in two volumes between 1812 and 1815, disciplinary fantasies run rampant.
—Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025
By allegedly allowing bots to run rampant, Spotify can present high stream and user activity numbers to potential advertisers, the lawsuit alleges.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025
The narratives have started to run rampant leading up to the conclusion of the MLB season, and especially with the Dodgers' league-leading payroll and murmurs of an MLB lockout in 2027, one that has begun gaining traction, is that the Dodgers are Goliath and the Blue Jays are David.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for run rampant
Cite this Entry
“Run rampant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/run%20rampant. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share