as in virus
sickness that can be passed from one person, plant, or animal to another
The rumors spread like a contagion.
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Recent Examples of contagion
Second, as the contagion breaks through, panic.
—
David Blumenthal, STAT, 24 Mar. 2026
To Neuvel and other critics, such portrayals romanticize euthanasia for mental illness, creating a risk of social contagion.
—Charles Lane, The Atlantic, 15 Mar. 2026
But instead of exploring the possibility and benefits of service to our fellow citizens, the editorial board goes straight to spreading panic like a contagion.
—Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
In comments last week, PBOC Governor Pan Gongsheng warned that external volatility could spill over into China, vowing that the central bank will try to insulate the domestic market from contagion.
—Bloomberg News, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contagion
David Blumenthal, STAT, 24 Mar. 2026
To Neuvel and other critics, such portrayals romanticize euthanasia for mental illness, creating a risk of social contagion.
—Charles Lane, The Atlantic, 15 Mar. 2026
But instead of exploring the possibility and benefits of service to our fellow citizens, the editorial board goes straight to spreading panic like a contagion.
—Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
In comments last week, PBOC Governor Pan Gongsheng warned that external volatility could spill over into China, vowing that the central bank will try to insulate the domestic market from contagion.
—Bloomberg News, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contagion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contagion
Noun
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Lettuce farmers experienced a similar problem in February during California and Arizona’s peak growing season, when warmer weather and a plant-eating virus destroyed crops, according to the AFBF.—
Vanessa Yurkevich,
CNN Money,
17 Apr. 2026
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Consider that before universal newborn protection against hepatitis B began in 1991, about 18,000 children contracted the virus yearly, nearly all developing lifelong infection that led to premature death in a quarter of them from cirrhosis or liver cancer.—
Professor David R. Hill,
Hartford Courant,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Another kind of typhus, carried by lice and caused by the bacteria Rickettsia prowazekii, produced historic plagues that devastated populations during times of war, famine and poverty, the National Institutes for Health said.—
Don Sweeney
April 8,
Sacbee.com,
8 Apr. 2026
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His church becomes a vital part of Homelander’s plan, just as Homelander’s delusions of divinity soon become everyone’s plague.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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McBain mentioned that Linker did not play Tuesday and sat out the first set due to a fever against San Clemente before playing the next three sets to help the Patriots get the win.—
David Delgado,
Oc Register,
17 Apr. 2026
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In addition to fevers and continuous, watery diarrhea, rotavirus symptoms in babies and children can also include loss of appetite and dehydration, per the NFID.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contagion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contagion. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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