: an infectious respiratory disease especially of children caused by a bacterium (Bordetella pertussis) and marked by a convulsive spasmodic cough sometimes followed by a crowing intake of breath
called also pertussis
Examples of whooping cough in a Sentence
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More than 8,500 pertussis (whooping cough) cases with three pediatric deaths have occurred so far in 2025.
—
Dr. Richard Moriarty, Boston Herald, 6 June 2025
Infants may not display the telltale whooping cough, but turn blue, red or gag due to difficulty breathing.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025
What is whooping cough? Also known as pertussis, whooping cough is a respiratory infection.
—Chantelle Lee, Time, 15 Apr. 2025
In Illinois, routine childhood vaccinations against diseases such as measles, polio and whooping cough decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 20 Mar. 2025
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Dr. Richard Moriarty, Boston Herald, 6 June 2025
Infants may not display the telltale whooping cough, but turn blue, red or gag due to difficulty breathing.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025
What is whooping cough? Also known as pertussis, whooping cough is a respiratory infection.
—Chantelle Lee, Time, 15 Apr. 2025
In Illinois, routine childhood vaccinations against diseases such as measles, polio and whooping cough decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whooping cough
Cite this Entry
“Whooping cough.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whooping%20cough. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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