epidemic 1 of 2

noun

Definition of epidemicnext
1
as in pandemic

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Relevance
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
The story of the beginning of the AIDS epidemic won the Emmy for Outstanding Made for Television Movie. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Oct. 2026 Due in large part to the opioid epidemic, injection drug use is now the primary risk factor for new hepatitis C infections in the United States. — Philip A. Chan, STAT, 8 Oct. 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
  • According to court documents and statements made in court, in March 2020 Congress passed legislation that sought to mitigate the economic harm caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Even after the setback, young households remained wealthier than their counterparts were before the pandemic.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of pandemic
Noun
  • Such a cloud is typically linked to an eruption of heavy elements—those created during a neutron star collision and its resulting kilonova.
    — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The night that inspired Gothic literature In 1815, a volcanic eruption in Indonesia released a massive cloud of ash and particulates, large enough to affect global weather.
    — Maria Papadouris, JSTOR Daily, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of eruption
Adjective
  • The necropsy found that Jackie had multiple conditions, including a type of infectious avian flu.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • In the pre-choruses, the chords and background vocals fill the spaces around Swift’s fragmented, stop-start lead vocal, creating an infectious call-and-response flow.
    — David Penn, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of infectious
Noun
  • Two-inch straps tipped with zinc alloy hooks lock the cover down and cut back on the constant readjusting that plagues cheaper slipcovers.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The biggest problem with the plague was that no one knew when it would be fully curbed.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of plague
Noun
  • In the 1960s America launched the Vela fleet of satellites, whose sole task was to look at Earth’s surface and search for any telltale neutrons, x-rays and gamma rays—extremely high-energy particles—coming from a nuclear explosion.
    — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Most of these fragments were generated by explosions and orbital collisions that shattered satellites and used rocket stages into clouds of dangerous debris.
    — Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 20 Oct. 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
  • The breaking up of material beliefs may seem to be famine and pestilence, want and woe, sin, sickness, and death, which assume new phases until their nothingness appears.
    — Kim Crooks Korinek, Christian Science Monitor, 18 May 2026
Definition of pestilence
Noun
  • Nimesh Patel’s stock in comedy has been on an upswing lately.
    — Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
  • That upswing in pipeline plays received a potential boost Wednesday with the Senate introduction of a bipartisan, infrastructure permitting reform bill that could gain legislative momentum before the end of the year.
    — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of upswing
Noun
  • Maine, North Carolina and Ohio also have seen increases of more than 30% in early in-person and mail voting compared with the same point in 2022.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Washington State reported a much lower $86 million for 2026; however, that’s an increase of $11 million from 2025, as the athletic department has returned to a budget equal to the final year of the old Pac-12 in fiscal 2024.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 22 Oct. 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 24 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on epidemic

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about epidemic

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