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
Several issues contribute contagion in the measles.
—
Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
There are also a couple of hints that the fate of Europe’s Jews is part of the prevailing atmosphere of unmentionable moral contagion.
—Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Regulatory gridlock and defective CDC tests stalled surveillance, allowing the contagion to spread unchecked for six crucial weeks.
—Jennifer W. Tsai, STAT, 18 Jan. 2026
France and Spain, therefore, need not fear any contagion of revolution reaching their shores from the Americas.
—Frederic J. Fransen, Twin Cities, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contagion
Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
There are also a couple of hints that the fate of Europe’s Jews is part of the prevailing atmosphere of unmentionable moral contagion.
—Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Regulatory gridlock and defective CDC tests stalled surveillance, allowing the contagion to spread unchecked for six crucial weeks.
—Jennifer W. Tsai, STAT, 18 Jan. 2026
France and Spain, therefore, need not fear any contagion of revolution reaching their shores from the Americas.
—Frederic J. Fransen, Twin Cities, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contagion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contagion
Noun
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The California Department of Public Health says, back on March 4, they were alerted by Sacramento County officials about a child with measles who may have exposed about 130 children to the virus.—
Cecilio Padilla,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
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The virus spreads via respiratory droplets and saliva through coughing, sneezing, talking or sharing eating utensils.—
Tanya Lewis,
Scientific American,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In the middle of the 7th century, a plague swept through the walled city of Jerash, in what is now modern-day Jordan.—
Durrie Bouscaren,
NPR,
28 Feb. 2026
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The digital plague that has come over us is a serious problem and people are just starting to recognize that.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Atomic-scale materials Modern processors suffer from internal fevers as billions of transistors generate heat that impacts performance and external sensors struggle to measure accurately.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 2026
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If ingested, the worms can cause severe headaches, stiff neck, the sensation of tingling or painful skin, low-grade fever, nausea, vomiting, coma and sometimes death.—
Susanne Rust
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contagion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contagion. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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