as in infection
sickness that can be passed from one person, plant, or animal to another
Parents are advised to vaccinate their children against contagious diseases.
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Recent Examples of contagious disease
The drop in vaccination coverage comes as the U.S. grapples with rising cases of the measles— one of the most contagious diseases in the world.
—
Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech, The Hill, 31 July 2025
Measles is among the most contagious diseases known.
—Ashley Lutz, Fortune, 8 July 2025
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases to affect humans, and can linger in the air for up to two hours.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 5 June 2025
That could be especially helpful with a highly contagious disease like measles, in which one infected person can quickly spread the virus to as many as 18 others.
—Alice Park, Time, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for contagious disease
Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech, The Hill, 31 July 2025
Measles is among the most contagious diseases known.
—Ashley Lutz, Fortune, 8 July 2025
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases to affect humans, and can linger in the air for up to two hours.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 5 June 2025
That could be especially helpful with a highly contagious disease like measles, in which one infected person can quickly spread the virus to as many as 18 others.
—Alice Park, Time, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for contagious disease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contagious disease
Noun
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While some infections cause little more than irritation, others could lead to vision loss or require a corneal transplant.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
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Illness and infection can increase metabolic rate as the body works to repair tissues and fight infection.—
Angela Ryan Lee,
Verywell Health,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
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If test results of the cells are abnormal, doctors will try to look for the cause, which may include infection from the HPV virus, Cohen notes.—
Elizabeth Yuko,
Flow Space,
4 Aug. 2025
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People could have encountered the measles virus at the Monarch Mountain at the Crest Gift Shop, 24500 U.S. 50, west of Salida, between 4:30 and 7 p.m. July 25.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Water plants in the morning so foliage dries quickly to reduce the risk of foliar diseases.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
15 Aug. 2025
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Myths, folk tales, and negative media coverage mean people often link these flying mammals to vampires or blame them for disease outbreaks.—
Anna Tunkova,
CNN Money,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Most people infected with West Nile do not feel sick, the CDC says, though about 1 in 5 people develop a fever and other flu-like symptoms and 1 in about 150 people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Aug. 2025
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Wide receiver Jalen Coker (illness) stayed at the team hotel instead of attending the joint practice.—
Mike Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contagious disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contagious%20disease. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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