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
After hitting theaters in the U.K. in November 2002 then making its way across the pond the following June, Boyle’s culture-shifting collaboration with screenwriter Alex Garland caught on like a contagion, earning more than $80 million worldwide against a reported budget of $8 million.
—
Megan McCluskey, Time, 16 June 2025
The impact from this sell-off also sent the easyJet share price down by 3.5%, as investors fear a contagion event.
—John Choong, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Complex contagion may have taken hold, in a malicious way, and begun spreading falsehood throughout the network at a rapid pace.
—Shaon Lahiri, The Conversation, 7 July 2025
Social media and hybrid workplaces have made our environments even more porous such that contagion spreads faster—emotionally and professionally.
—Ellen Choi, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for contagion
Megan McCluskey, Time, 16 June 2025
The impact from this sell-off also sent the easyJet share price down by 3.5%, as investors fear a contagion event.
—John Choong, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Complex contagion may have taken hold, in a malicious way, and begun spreading falsehood throughout the network at a rapid pace.
—Shaon Lahiri, The Conversation, 7 July 2025
Social media and hybrid workplaces have made our environments even more porous such that contagion spreads faster—emotionally and professionally.
—Ellen Choi, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for contagion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contagion
Noun
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Most countries that are polio-free today used this vaccine to stop the virus, including India — long thought to be the most difficult place to end polio.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Aug. 2025
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Septic shock results from a severe infection with a germ (e.g., bacteria, virus, fungus, or parasite).—
Colleen Doherty,
Verywell Health,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The plague of injuries hadn’t lifted either, last year’s No. 2 pick Cameron Brink was still recovering from a torn ACL and speedy spark plug Rae Burrell was injured just seconds into the season.—
Mirjam Swanson,
Oc Register,
8 Aug. 2025
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Those individuals, then, via cough or direct contact, can spread plague person-to-person, and that’s called primary pneumonic plague.—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
15 July 2025
Noun
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Be alert for fever, headache and fatigue, which could signal infection.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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Wills, who was previously able to move with the assistance of a mobility device, to participate in physical therapy and eat meals normally, soon developed a fever, pain and had difficulty speaking, according to the suit.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
12 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contagion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contagion. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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