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
Eighteen Americans possibly exposed to the virus are undergoing a six-week-long quarantine — much lengthier than the guidelines for most contagious diseases.
—
Ashley Abramson, Washington Post, 23 May 2026
How does contagious disease spread?
—Allison Gibson, Sacbee.com, 7 May 2026
Measles is a highly contagious disease that is typically spread through sneezes and coughs.
—Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 6 May 2026
Another California baby has contracted measles — this time, in Orange County — raising questions about what parents should do to protect their youngsters as the notoriously contagious disease continues to spread nationwide.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for contagious disease
Ashley Abramson, Washington Post, 23 May 2026
How does contagious disease spread?
—Allison Gibson, Sacbee.com, 7 May 2026
Measles is a highly contagious disease that is typically spread through sneezes and coughs.
—Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 6 May 2026
Another California baby has contracted measles — this time, in Orange County — raising questions about what parents should do to protect their youngsters as the notoriously contagious disease continues to spread nationwide.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for contagious disease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contagious disease
Noun
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The virus took root in Mongbwalu’s crowded gold-mining camps, where poor sanitation, misinformation and deep skepticism about hospitals have fueled nearly 500 infections and dozens of deaths in weeks.—
Justin Kabumba,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2026
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Unless the larvae are removed and an animal is given larvicide and antibiotics, the infections are typically deadly.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
7 June 2026
Noun
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Ebola is transmitted from certain animal species like bats and primates, and while the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda is concerning, health officials there are exit-screening people leaving those countries in hopes of keeping the virus contained.—
Alice Park,
Time,
12 June 2026
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Five California residents were exposed to a strain of the hantavirus, known as Andes virus, that spread on a Dutch cruise ship and killed three people.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
Noun
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The full suite of vaccines against childhood diseases was almost complete by 1970.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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The deadly plague is called Pierce’s disease.—
Seamus Bozeman
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Eventually, the ways in which our body tried to cope — by sweating, for example - no longer suffice, which can result in illnesses like heat stroke, which typically starts when core temperature hits 104 F or more and can lead to death.—
Denise Hruby,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
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Taylor served only 16 months as President before dying of illness.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contagious disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contagious%20disease. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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