widespread

adjective

wide·spread | \ ˈwīd-ˈspred

Definition of widespread

1 : widely diffused or prevalent widespread public interest

2 : widely extended or spread out low, widespread hood and fenders — Time a widespread erosion surface— C. B. Hitchcock

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about widespread

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of widespread in a Sentence

There is widespread public interest in the election. Trade partners had become more widespread. There was widespread opposition to the plan.

Recent Examples on the Web

In the church, even some of those who doubt there is widespread abuse of nuns say the silence can be enveloping. — Tim Sullivan, The Seattle Times, "AP finds long history of nuns abused by priests in India," 1 Jan. 2019 But commercial availability in this case hasn't meant widespread use. — Chris Lee, Ars Technica, "Conservation of energy used to parallelize quantum key distribution," 17 Dec. 2018 Labeling these accusations a witch hunt suggests they amount to an illegitimate power grab by women rather than a reflection of the widespread abuse of women by men in positions of power over them. — Erin Cassese, Vox, "A political history of the term “witch hunt”," 31 Oct. 2018 Both sides in South Sudan’s civil war have been accused of widespread abuses such as gang rapes against civilians, including along ethnic lines. — Elias Meseret, BostonGlobe.com, "South Sudan’s warring leaders meet for first time since 2016," 21 June 2018 After 9/11, stories like Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings films provided essential tales of optimism in response to widespread narratives of war and anti-globalization. — Aja Romano, Vox, "In the era of Trump and apocalyptic change, Hopepunk is a storytelling template for #resistance — and hanging onto your humanity at all costs.," 27 Dec. 2018 That production will have widespread benefits, as the U.S. Geological Survey estimates ANWR’s coastal plain holds 10.4 billion barrels of oil. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "Ryan Zinke’s Parting Gift," 24 Dec. 2018 Does this mean Apple isn't sharing valuable malware/threat-intel with AV-community, preventing the creation of widespread AV signatures that can protect end-users?! — Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, "Four months after its debut, sneaky Mac malware went undetected by AV providers," 21 Dec. 2018 The singer’s arrest and alleged torture at the hands of state agents in August drew widespread condemnation abroad and at home, provoking street protests in Kampala. — Rodney Muhumuza, The Seattle Times, "Can we talk? Ugandans try to coax longtime leader to leave," 17 Dec. 2018

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