1
as in infectious
capable of being passed by physical contact from one person to another
chicken pox, measles, German measles, and other contagious diseases
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spreading
exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others
the enthusiasm of the new club members was contagious
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contagious
Get a flu vaccine early in the flu season to build up your immunity against this contagious illness.
—
Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 5 May 2025
The energy of design thinking becomes contagious across teams.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Because measles is so contagious, experts say the only way to prevent outbreaks is if at least 95% of a community has received two doses of the MMR vaccine.
—Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2025
After a while, former Marlin Jazz Chisholm Jr. recalled, the losing felt contagious.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contagious
Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 5 May 2025
The energy of design thinking becomes contagious across teams.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Because measles is so contagious, experts say the only way to prevent outbreaks is if at least 95% of a community has received two doses of the MMR vaccine.
—Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2025
After a while, former Marlin Jazz Chisholm Jr. recalled, the losing felt contagious.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contagious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contagious
Adjective
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During a recent morning rehearsal the two laughed often and the result was infectious.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2025
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Being outdoors exposes them to several risks, including catching diseases such as herpes viral conjunctivitis, feline AIDS, leukemia, and infectious peritonitis, according to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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His provisional cause of death was given as multi-organ failure due to infective endocarditis, a rare infection of the inner lining or valves of the heart.—
Daniel Taylor,
The Athletic,
26 Feb. 2025
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His provisional cause of death was given as multi-organ failure due to infective endocarditis, a rare infection of the inner lining or valves of the heart.—
Daniel Taylor,
The Athletic,
26 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contagious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contagious. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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