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
The cause was classified as norovirus, a contagious virus that causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, and is commonly known as the stomach flu.
—
Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025
Once the soundtrack of the working class, cumbia's simple, yet contagious, rhythm absorbed local styles, morphed, and reinvented itself.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025
Fans see themselves in Ellie’s contagious confidence and feel their inner baddie light up in her presence.
—Marc Williams, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 Sep. 2025
To date, one case of the highly contagious respiratory disease has resulted in a hospitalization.
—Stephanie Innes, AZCentral.com, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contagious
Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025
Once the soundtrack of the working class, cumbia's simple, yet contagious, rhythm absorbed local styles, morphed, and reinvented itself.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025
Fans see themselves in Ellie’s contagious confidence and feel their inner baddie light up in her presence.
—Marc Williams, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 Sep. 2025
To date, one case of the highly contagious respiratory disease has resulted in a hospitalization.
—Stephanie Innes, AZCentral.com, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contagious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contagious
Adjective
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Underpinning all his goofiness was an utterly sincere and infectious confidence and belief in A Complete Unknown, and a genuine desire to share it with as many people as possible.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
8 Oct. 2025
-
The vaccine is made from an inactivated virus, which means the virus is not infectious.—
Ashley Wong,
Health,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
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 16 Oct. 2025.
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