as in virus
sickness that can be passed from one person, plant, or animal to another
The rumors spread like a contagion.
Related Words
Relevance
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 contagion
The collapse is always greater when households, institutions and individuals have borrowed on the back of high asset prices, and logically there is greater contagion across the economy.
—
Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
But the contagion of rebellion was spreading there, too.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Artificial intelligence models can secretly transmit dangerous inclinations to one another like a contagion, a recent study found.
—Angela Yang, NBC news, 29 July 2025
As healthcare systems groaned under the pandemic’s weight and contagion fears loomed, outpatient and nursing center residents were steered toward remote symptom tracking via telemedicine.
—IEEE Spectrum, 14 Sep. 2023
See All Example Sentences for contagion
Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
But the contagion of rebellion was spreading there, too.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Artificial intelligence models can secretly transmit dangerous inclinations to one another like a contagion, a recent study found.
—Angela Yang, NBC news, 29 July 2025
As healthcare systems groaned under the pandemic’s weight and contagion fears loomed, outpatient and nursing center residents were steered toward remote symptom tracking via telemedicine.
—IEEE Spectrum, 14 Sep. 2023
See All Example Sentences for contagion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contagion
Noun
-
The Browns are a virus for seasonal depression.—
Jason Lloyd,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The virus, which is spread by bodily fluids, is endemic in animal populations in Central and West Africa, and there are periodic outbreaks.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
And the plague is coming on fast, ready to kill.—
Mary Crossan,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Then a plague hits the household.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Same goes if it’s accompanied by other new-to-you symptoms—like numbness, weakness, tingling, fever, weight loss, or issues with bowel or bladder function, all of which can point to conditions that require medical care.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Although signs of illness are uncommon, some cats may develop fever, loss of appetite or lethargy.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contagion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contagion. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share