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
Last year, Kennedy proposed allowing bird flu to run rampant on the nation’s poultry farms, so as to kill off all the weakest chickens.
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Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2026
Sheriff Chris Nanos said all members of the Guthrie family have been cleared as possible suspects in Nancy Guthrie's disappearance, issuing scathing criticism of rumormongering that has run rampant in the case.
—Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 16 Feb. 2026
After all, the sessions are full of everything a developing brain needs — kids play with fun gardening tools, dig in dirt without getting in trouble and run rampant around an open farm.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Feb. 2026
On the other hand, Talcove said, the USDA has spent less than 1% on SNAP program integrity, allowing fraud to run rampant.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026
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Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2026
Sheriff Chris Nanos said all members of the Guthrie family have been cleared as possible suspects in Nancy Guthrie's disappearance, issuing scathing criticism of rumormongering that has run rampant in the case.
—Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 16 Feb. 2026
After all, the sessions are full of everything a developing brain needs — kids play with fun gardening tools, dig in dirt without getting in trouble and run rampant around an open farm.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Feb. 2026
On the other hand, Talcove said, the USDA has spent less than 1% on SNAP program integrity, allowing fraud to run rampant.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026
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 28 Feb. 2026.
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