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
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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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Recent Examples of contagious
Most were caused by norovirus, and the recent surge has been linked to a new strain of the highly contagious virus.
—
ABC News, 13 May 2026
The Caribbean Princess completed an 11-day voyage that had departed on April 28 from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, during which passengers and crew suffered from an outbreak of the highly contagious virus, which has predominant symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 May 2026
It has been assumed that the virus is contagious only if someone is in close contact with someone who’s having symptoms.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 11 May 2026
Hantavirus is also less contagious than COVID, and, unlike COVID, does not appear to spread before symptoms materialize.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for contagious
ABC News, 13 May 2026
The Caribbean Princess completed an 11-day voyage that had departed on April 28 from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, during which passengers and crew suffered from an outbreak of the highly contagious virus, which has predominant symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 May 2026
It has been assumed that the virus is contagious only if someone is in close contact with someone who’s having symptoms.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 11 May 2026
Hantavirus is also less contagious than COVID, and, unlike COVID, does not appear to spread before symptoms materialize.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for contagious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contagious
Adjective
-
Travolta’s infectious enthusiasm carried over into the movie itself, a semi-autobiographical trifle about his childhood love of air travel.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
19 May 2026
-
His humor, and especially his laugh, was infectious.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
18 May 2026
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 19 May. 2026.
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