epidemic 1 of 2

noun

Definition of epidemicnext
1
as in pandemic

Related Words

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2
as in eruption

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

epidemic

2 of 2

adjective

ˌe-pə-ˈde-mik How to pronounce epidemic (audio)
as in infectious
exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others the little girl's giggles were epidemic, and soon the entire gathering was laughing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of epidemic
Noun
And one of the most powerful institutions in the city, Syracuse University, seemed more interested in suppressing news of a rape epidemic than solving it. — Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 30 June 2026 As one of the first celebrity activists involved in the AIDS epidemic, Morgan Fairchild feared the worst when her dear friend Rock Hudson suddenly became sick in 1984. — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 30 June 2026
Adjective
Autism, insulin resistance, and autoimmune diagnoses have reached epidemic proportions. — David Ferry, Wired News, 10 Dec. 2025 From Breath To Burnout The early identification of imbalances caused by chronic stress resonates deeply in our current health climate, where burnout, emotional exhaustion and cognitive fatigue are silently epidemic. — Trisha Swift, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for epidemic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for epidemic
  1. pandemic
  2. eruption
  3. infectious
  4. plague
  5. explosion
  6. pestilence
  7. upswing
  8. increase
Noun
  • In 2020, officials decided to forgo setting a target during the Covid-19 pandemic.
    — Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • Drawing on years of experience in the restaurant industry, Rivers launched Bird Run in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
    — Sam Flemming, AJC.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of pandemic
Noun
  • That shared energy—the crowd noise, the collective exhale, the spontaneous eruption—creates memory at a neurological level.
    — Jonathan Mallie, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • These intestinal eruptions usually last about a week, but can go on for two or more weeks, the CDC says, with dehydration being one of the most significant concerns.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 7 July 2026
Definition of eruption
Adjective
  • The atmosphere is infectious, attracting a discerning international crowd, yacht enthusiasts, fashion aficionados, and travelers who are seeking a blend of luxury and authenticity.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 July 2026
  • Vibrant animation, infectious energy, and a killer soundtrack make this a future cult favorite.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 2 July 2026
Definition of infectious
Noun
  • Many of them, like Tubbs, were refugee Midwesterners, sick of parching droughts and devouring plagues of locusts, the insects descending in buzzing clouds thick enough to blacken the noonday sun.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026
  • Money is tight, especially since a plague has devastated the coffee harvest and destroyed the livelihoods of Miguel’s parents, Pino (Luis Alberti) and Teresa (Fátima Molina).
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 8 July 2026
Definition of plague
Noun
  • Several explosions were heard in Bampur last night around midnight local time, Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency said.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • Authorities announced a blanket inspection following the May explosion, China's deadliest mining accident in years.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
Definition of explosion
Noun
  • Many who lived through the pandemic—and witnessed this inability to combat the lethal pestilence—developed scornful opinions of the medical profession.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 May 2026
  • Some of those tombstones explicitly referred to a pestilence as the cause of death.
    — Marc Zimmer, The Conversation, 12 May 2026
Definition of pestilence
Noun
  • But ballooning costs aren’t the only factor contributing to the dramatic upswing in retail prices.
    — Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 29 June 2026
  • Overreliant Before the pandemic, there was a sense that Sacramento was on an upswing, said Fat, of the L Street restaurant.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of upswing
Noun
  • The group, which has a team of volunteers dedicated to tracking immigration enforcement, has seen a noticeable increase in enforcement since January 2025.
    — Mathew Miranda July 9, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026
  • As the market scales and visibility increases, legislative frameworks are likely to follow.
    — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026
Definition of increase

Browse Nearby Words

epicures
epidemic
epidemics
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Cite this Entry

“Epidemic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/epidemic. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on epidemic

Nglish: Translation of epidemic for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about epidemic

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