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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of epidemic
arkansasonline.com, 3 July 2025
Synan has become a local expert on the heroin epidemic, after espousing treatment instead of jail.
—Elizabeth B. Kim, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Scott White, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2024
Many of the province’s early cases of COVID-19 were linked to pilgrims who had been in Iran, the world’s leading Shiite power and an early epidemic hot spot, as well as a regional antagonist to Riyadh.
—Geneive Abdo, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2020
See All Example Sentences for epidemic
Adjective
In May 2023, Murthy declared loneliness the latest public health epidemic.
—arkansasonline.com, 3 July 2025
Synan has become a local expert on the heroin epidemic, after espousing treatment instead of jail.
—Elizabeth B. Kim, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Noun
The number of colleges cutting back programs, merging and closing has reached epidemic proportions.
—Scott White, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2024
Many of the province’s early cases of COVID-19 were linked to pilgrims who had been in Iran, the world’s leading Shiite power and an early epidemic hot spot, as well as a regional antagonist to Riyadh.
—Geneive Abdo, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2020
See All Example Sentences for epidemic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for epidemic
Adjective
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Highlife arose in the Fante coast of Ghana in the 19th century, where natives curated infectious polyrhythms through primarily brass instruments, local drums, guitars, the Akan Seprewa—some which derived from Caribbean soldiers and British military brass bands.—
Ime Ekpo,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
-
Kaiser consistently said that the particles were harmless, inert material dislodged by a malfunctioning water heater that was not infectious.—
Paul Sisson,
Mercury News,
10 July 2025
Noun
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If the nation’s students are ever to catch up on the learning recovery needed both from the pandemic and since, high-quality summer learning experiences should become as fundamental to summer as grilling, park outings, and picnics.—
Linda Darling-Hammond,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
Another example was the pandemic, where spending by homebound consumers shifted from services like restaurants to goods such as home exercise equipment.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
1 July 2025
Noun
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Featuring hundreds of diagrams from the past millennium, ranging from financial charts to maps of volcanic eruptions, the exhibition provides the kind of survey that brings definition to an entire category of visual communication.—
Jonathon Keats,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
-
Earth processes – such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions – also trigger cascading hazards, often with long-lasting effects.—
Brian J. Yanites,
The Conversation,
26 June 2025
Noun
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This is in addition to the broader advice given the plague of text message attacks now targeting American citizens.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
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The sylvatic plague is the same bacterium that causes bubonic and pneumonic plague in humans.—
Catherine Reagor,
AZCentral.com,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
The Yankees’ double-digit explosion on a rainy night provided plenty of breathing room for a bullpen that has been taxed and decimated by injuries.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
9 July 2025
-
These new requirements, including this relatively tight deadline, could trigger an explosion of litigation across the state as condo associations begin to reassess governing documents, assessment structures, and recorded declarations, Pardo said.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 July 2025
Noun
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While pestilence crept over the walls of cities and the countryside fell into desolation—many foreign conquerors of Europe knew how to fight and plunder but not to plow or sow—the monks preserved words.—
Bernd Roeck
June 16,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2025
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In recent years, the censorship and false narratives of woke cancel culture have transformed our great universities into greenhouses for this deadly and virulent pestilence.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Recent upswing included an 11-game road win streak.—
Greg Cote
July 13,
Miami Herald,
13 July 2025
-
Prior to the start of the club’s recent upswing on June 7 Red Sox starters ranked 25th in MLB with a 4.53 ERA.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
13 July 2025
Noun
-
In Porter County, 1,420 students used vouchers, a 302-student increase from the previous year.—
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
14 July 2025
-
Gray’s Assembly vote As an assemblyman in 2017, Gray voted for Senate Bill 1, the legislation with the annual gasoline tax increases.—
David Lightman
July 14,
Sacbee.com,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Epidemic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/epidemic. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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