epidemic 1 of 2

noun

Definition of epidemicnext
1
as in pandemic

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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
During an epidemic in 1964 and 1965, 20,000 infants were born with congenital rubella syndrome. — Matthew Herper, STAT, 11 Aug. 2026 Absenteeism is epidemic with some city high schools like Westinghouse and Perry, with more than half of their students chronically absent, missing 18 or more days of school. — Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 11 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
  • In interviews with positive cases, public health workers try to identify others who may have been exposed and come into contact with an infectious person.
    — Sarah Volpenhein, jsonline.com, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The dancers brought an infectious energy to every corner of the stage through versatile choreography.
    — Maya Santiago, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of infectious
Noun
  • Communism was an ideological plague that killed more than 100 million people and tyrannized and warped the lives of hundreds of millions more.
    — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • And Gakpo offers a solution both on the wing and through the middle, should injuries plague Spurs’ centre-forwards again.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 5 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 combination of the city’s purchase of the historic building and development of The Gifford apartment project could help fuel an upswing in activity downtown, San Jose officials said.
    — George Avalos, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Most of that increase is due to a sharp upswing in reports of assault with a deadly weapon.
    — Mike Stunson, USA Today, 10 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 22 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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