1
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
Ari Fife, The Frontier, 17 Feb. 2026
This is the only way to improve student outcomes and stop the epidemic of teacher burnout.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Byjon Cohen, science.org, 9 Dec. 2024
More than two millennia later, health officials are paying new attention to this old condition for a startling reason: myopia has reached epidemic levels worldwide.
—Gary Stix, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for epidemic
Noun
To combat an epidemic of fentanyl deaths, prosecutors around the country have increasingly treated fatal overdoses as homicides.
—Ari Fife, The Frontier, 17 Feb. 2026
This is the only way to improve student outcomes and stop the epidemic of teacher burnout.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
But some researchers say the response should not be limited to the epidemic hot spots in big cities.
—Byjon Cohen, science.org, 9 Dec. 2024
More than two millennia later, health officials are paying new attention to this old condition for a startling reason: myopia has reached epidemic levels worldwide.
—Gary Stix, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for epidemic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for epidemic
Noun
-
There also are no school closures in the current budget plan despite an enrollment decline from nearly 500,000 in 2018-19, just before the COVID-19 pandemic, to about 390,000 this year.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
And with record state budget surpluses during the pandemic, California was able to do it without touching other school funding.—
CalMatters,
Oc Register,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Braedon Tobin lit the lamp four times in an offensive eruption, powering Sandwich in a 7-3 win over Dennis-Yarmouth in the Jeff Hayes Memorial Tournament.—
Tyler McManus,
Boston Herald,
17 Feb. 2026
-
That includes a 26-point eruption in which Alvarado made eight 3-pointers in Philadelphia.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Amber Ruffin's joy is infectious.—
Reena Advani,
NPR,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The dancers are exuberant, with a unified, infectious vibe reminiscent of an early New York club scene.—
Marcia Luttrell,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Bible states that as a result, God unleashed 10 plagues against Egypt and its people.—
Seth Jacobson,
wickedlocal.com,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Collins, a 9/11 truther and QAnon convert who sports a black MAGA hat and custom dental fangs, moved to rural Shawmut, Montana, in 2016 to build a bug-out — an off-grid fortress suitable for waiting out a plague or world war — and raise horses with his wife, Starla.—
Tessa Stuart,
Rolling Stone,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
On even longer timescales, the remnant black holes that were created, whether from stellar explosions, neutron star mergers, a collapsing gas cloud, or having grown into supermassive behemoths, will all evaporate.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
20 Feb. 2026
-
With the population of millionaires and billionaires aging, and an explosion in companies and products promising miracle cures, the wealthy are driving much of the spending.—
Robert Frank,
CNBC,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
As an example, the celestial dog was thought to aid the sun in causing the intense heat, drought and pestilence of summer.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Famines, pestilence, crusades, and war.—
Greg Grandin
September 23,
Literary Hub,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This time, the upswing is clear and few — least of all the hyperscalers — are gambling on an end.—
Bloomberg Wire,
Dallas Morning News,
16 Feb. 2026
-
This time, the upswing is clear and few — least of all the hyperscalers — are gambling on an end.—
Debby Wu,
Fortune,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Infections during pregnancy also pose severe risks for mothers who are not vaccinated or immune, including miscarriage and a tenfold increase in death due to pneumonia.—
Jennifer Berry Hawes,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
-
An average increase of 26 minutes of sleep per night.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Epidemic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/epidemic. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
