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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contagious
Once someone contracts norovirus, their body sheds billions of tiny, contagious virus particles.
—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 29 May 2026
There’s something numbers and analytics can’t put on how contagious winning together can be and losing together can be.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
Ebola is a highly contagious virus and can be contracted from bodily fluids such as vomit, blood or semen.
—ABC News, 26 May 2026
Bodies of those who died of Ebola can be highly contagious and lead to further spread when people prepare them for burial and gather for funerals.
—Jean-Yves Kamale, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for contagious
Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 29 May 2026
There’s something numbers and analytics can’t put on how contagious winning together can be and losing together can be.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
Ebola is a highly contagious virus and can be contracted from bodily fluids such as vomit, blood or semen.
—ABC News, 26 May 2026
Bodies of those who died of Ebola can be highly contagious and lead to further spread when people prepare them for burial and gather for funerals.
—Jean-Yves Kamale, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for contagious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contagious
Adjective
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Changing litter daily can also limit exposure as toxoplasma eggs need 1 to 5 days to become infectious.—
Dr. Megan Yanny,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
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But the energy of the production is infectious.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
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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On July 30, Ray updated her fans again, revealing her diagnosis of infective endocarditis, a severe heart infection.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
31 July 2024
Cite this Entry
“Contagious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contagious. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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