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
Dysphoria is not a social contagion.
—
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2026
For fear of contagion, the hospital staff housed him in a storage shed.
—Peter Wayne Moe, Longreads, 26 Mar. 2026
Is the sound an airborne contagion, or something everyone could always hear or sense that’s only now being unbottled?
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 Mar. 2026
Second, as the contagion breaks through, panic.
—David Blumenthal, STAT, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contagion
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2026
For fear of contagion, the hospital staff housed him in a storage shed.
—Peter Wayne Moe, Longreads, 26 Mar. 2026
Is the sound an airborne contagion, or something everyone could always hear or sense that’s only now being unbottled?
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 Mar. 2026
Second, as the contagion breaks through, panic.
—David Blumenthal, STAT, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contagion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contagion
Noun
-
The virus can be transmitted to humans through urine or fecal matter and cause fatal lung and kidney complications in humans.—
Allison Kiehl,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
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Health authorities in South Africa and Switzerland identified the circulating strain as the Andes virus, the only hantavirus believed to spread from person to person, which is found in South America.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Overall, the chemistry eliminates the thermal runaway risks, dendrite formation, and complex cooling requirements that plague lithium-ion systems.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
-
This includes murine typhus, cat scratch disease, and plague.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Symptoms start one to eight weeks after exposure and initially can include fatigue, fever and muscle aches, according to the CDC.—
Allison Kiehl,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
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Common symptoms of these disease include fever, aches and abdominal issues such as vomiting or diarrhea, according to the CDC.—
Hali Smith
May 8,
Idaho Statesman,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contagion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contagion. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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