PANDEMIC Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

pandemic 1 of 2

noun

Definition of pandemic

as in epidemic

medical an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people over a wide area or throughout the world The 1918 flu pandemic claimed millions of lives. the AIDS pandemic

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pandemic

2 of 2

adjective

as in widespread

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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of pandemic

Noun

The policy, which took effect Wednesday, July 1, marks a major shift from the flexible telework arrangements many state workers have had since the COVID-19 pandemic. — Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026 Shah is an attorney and healthcare executive and oversaw the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic. — Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 7 July 2026

Adjective

As tourist numbers worldwide return towards pre-pandemic levels, the debate around what constitutes ‘too many’ visitors continues. — Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 During the pandemic, Mantilla turned to facemasks to protect artisan jobs. — Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for pandemic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pandemic

Noun

Historians estimate that the North American epidemic killed at least 100,000 to 130,000 people over several years.

— Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
No disrespect to Meredith Marks, of course, but this Bravo DJ epidemic has gotten out of control.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 2 July 2026

Definition of epidemic

Adjective

The 2023 wave of large-language-model adoption produced widespread experimentation but very little production deployment in compliance-critical workflows, because the cost of a wrong answer in regulation remains higher than the cost of a slow one.

— Matthew White, Fortune, 7 July 2026
The nostalgia of the digital camera is a key factor in the widespread attraction to the device.

— Anya Joseph, Mercury News, 7 July 2026

Definition of widespread

Adjective

Often, though, mistaken mindsets and pervasive myths get in the way of your ability to deliver a powerful presentation.

— William Arruda, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
This trend has been pretty pervasive among designer bags recently, with shoppers buying new Prada and Chanel bags with darkened leather to give them a used look, or sourcing vintage Celine bags with obvious signs of wear.

— Irene Richardson, InStyle, 2 July 2026

Definition of pervasive

Adjective

The couple’s desire for privacy was prevalent at their New York City wedding, where both the couple's and their guests’ security was prioritized.

— Bella DeCrescenzo, The Providence Journal, 4 July 2026
The Elora bathroom boasts the type of hybrid wet/dry layout that has become increasingly prevalent in Europe and gained a little steam in the US.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 July 2026

Definition of prevalent

Adjective

Others, like Chevanni Davids, a 33-year-old South African man living in Bali, use them to maintain a general sense of well-being.

— Shelby Hartman, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Ukraine's military general staff said Monday that the strike caused a fire at the facility, which is situated nearly 2,500 kilometers (1,553 miles) from Ukrainian territory and close to Russia's border with Kazakhstan.

— Sam Meredith, CNBC, 7 July 2026

Definition of general

Adjective

The returnees have strained local communities, many of which already have scant resources in a country where poverty is rife and malnutrition stalks the most vulnerable.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Trump has repeatedly called for this prohibition, falsely claiming that mail-in voting is rife with fraud.

— Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2026

Definition of rife

Adjective

At one point, Weist describes uncovering that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani maintained a fine-art photography practice while simultaneously waging a highly public censorship battle against the Brooklyn Museum.

— Rhoda Feng, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Our real estate data comes from public records that have been registered and digitized by local county offices.

— Bay Area Home Report, Mercury News, 7 July 2026

Definition of public

Adjective

The group noted the projection was revised upward from an earlier estimate owing to an additional year in the budget window and higher prevailing interest rates.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
Likewise, prevailing concepts of Hamlet at the time cast the prince as a wan and melancholic, leading critics to bristle at Bernhardt’s energy.

— Betsy Golden Kellem, JSTOR Daily, 18 Mar. 2026

Definition of prevailing

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pandemic

pandemics

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Style

“Pandemic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pandemic. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of pandemic

noun

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

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A Guide to Coronavirus-Related Words

'Pandemic' vs. 'Epidemic' vs. 'Endemic'

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