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
These rules, enforced by the state Department of Health, are designed to prevent outbreaks of contagious illnesses that once posed widespread threats.
—
Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Make allyship contagious for others through modeling, vulnerable phrases, and storytelling.
—Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
His candor, passion, and empathy were contagious.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 7 Sep. 2025
While not as contagious as the flu or COVID-19, tuberculosis is the world’s deadliest infectious disease, killing more than one million people each year, according to the World Health Organization.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contagious
Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Make allyship contagious for others through modeling, vulnerable phrases, and storytelling.
—Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
His candor, passion, and empathy were contagious.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 7 Sep. 2025
While not as contagious as the flu or COVID-19, tuberculosis is the world’s deadliest infectious disease, killing more than one million people each year, according to the World Health Organization.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contagious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contagious
Adjective
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The infectious energy and Justin Bieber-style appeal of 25-year-old country hitmaker Bailey Zimmerman was not reflected in the CMA nominations.—
Marcus K. Dowling,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
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For example, a range of different infectious pathogens and diseases can lead to different chronic medical conditions such as COVID-19 leading to long COVID, human papillomavirus to cervical cancer, Helicobacter pylori to stomach ulcers and cancer, Epstein-Barr Virus to lymphoma.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 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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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 15 Sep. 2025.
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