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
By 2018, America's school shooting epidemic had taken a toll on me. — Steve Hartman, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026 But the largest Ebola epidemic on record remains the 2014-2016 outbreak in West Africa. — ABC News, 19 Aug. 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
  • Abshir ran a site that allegedly received around $5 million in fraudulent federal funds meant to feed children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
    — WCCO Staff, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The Lakers defeated the Miami Heat in the 2020 NBA Finals, which were played at Walt Disney World during the COVID-19 pandemic.
    — Law Murray, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of pandemic
Noun
  • Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions because of its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities are central to supernova explosions as well as volcanic eruptions and this study will help astronomers and geophysicists alike in predict how energy moves through these systems.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of eruption
Adjective
  • On a recent episode of Therapuss, all Jake Shane needed to say was the word Boston and the episode’s guest, singer Role Model, began to croon Lefty’s infectious chorus.
    — Abigail Sylvor Greenberg, Vanity Fair, 21 Aug. 2026
  • He is being remembered for his infectious smile, magnetic personality, and for being grounded in his faith.
    — Marissa Sulek, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of infectious
Noun
  • Many of us hear talk of plague and think that humanity, as ever, will manage to muddle through.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The two soon stumble back into the cult that created the plague doctor — a cult in which people are killed and resurrected, taken apart and rebuilt.
    — S.M. Hallow, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of plague
Noun
  • Deadly fires, often linked to electrical faults or gas cylinder explosions, are common in India where investigators have frequently pointed to safety lapses and inadequate enforcement of fire regulations as contributing to recurring loss of life.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Hugo Weaving’s Frank Harkness, the nefarious birth father of agent River Cartwright (Jack Lowdon), also makes an appearance, and the trailer previews plenty of explosions, shootouts and even hand-to-hand combat.
    — Lisa de los Reyes, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of explosion
Noun
  • As famine, war, pestilence and death galloped through, religious thought had been taking on an apocalyptic and self-abnegatory fervor.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 July 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
  • The Treasury’s intervention helped boost risky bets, triggering an upswing in crypto prices.
    — Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Last season, however, should provide some optimism that their team might be on an unexpected upswing.
    — Josh Yohe, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of upswing
Noun
  • The Defense Ministry in Bucharest said that so far this year, Russia had attacked targets close to Romania's frontier 54 times, representing a significant increase on the 28 attacks close to the border in all of 2025.
    — David Brennan, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • New York City sanitation workers say their job has been pricklier than usual after the Department of Sanitation reported an increase in needle stick injuries.
    — Noelle Lilley, CBS News, 21 Aug. 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 25 Aug. 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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