pandemic 1 of 2

Definition of pandemicnext
as in epidemic
medical an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people over a wide area or throughout the world The 1918 flu pandemic claimed millions of lives. the AIDS pandemic

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pandemic

2 of 2

adjective

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 pandemic
Noun
Many feared downtown would be swamped by foreclosures after the pandemic as building owners struggled to fill spaces left behind by the shift to work-from-home. Brian J. Rogal, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026 Florida was among the states that surged in popularity during the pandemic, with homebuilders staying busy with new construction. Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Ridership has been lower since the pandemic and is only 85% of 2019 pre-pandemic levels, according to agency reports. Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2026 The pandemic brought waves of demographic change as some Californians exited to other states, often chasing greater affordability and new lifestyles. Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pandemic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pandemic
Noun
  • Leaving town is tantamount to doctors and nurses closing hospitals during an epidemic.
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Private markets underinvest in epidemic preparedness because returns are uncertain and often realized collectively rather than individually.
    Guy Vernet, STAT, 9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Now, though, with the widespread circulation of magic manuals, grimoires, and related compendia—with the recording, on paper, of words, spells, histories, stories—witchcraft has taken an irreversible step into the exoteric realm.
    Kristen Roupenian, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
  • At a time of widespread angst over runaway ticket prices, merely encountering something novel at a concert isn’t enough for many to justify the cost of getting in the door, particularly when superstars like Taylor Swift and SZA are on the road showing that innovation and value can coexist.
    Vanessa Franko, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Cyber-physical systems going to become very pervasive The concept of cy-trust focuses on quantifying trust in a measurable way.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 6 Apr. 2026
  • What might be less obvious is that the compositional structures of the 808 and its descendants are pervasive, too.
    Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Orange terra cotta panels are set within the precast and suggest a lighter touch than the concrete that’s prevalent throughout the original buildings on campus.
    Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
  • Inclusion is prevalent in K-Pop culture and Oh’s students also reflect a diverse student group.
    Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • So, in a general process of professionalization that changed the way that music was experienced, raising standards while widening the gap between expert and amateur, the mandolin fell out of fashion.
    Tim Parks, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Denise Lieberman, director and general counsel for the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, an organization that champions accessible elections, said the signs serve no purpose, since they’re tied to eligibility, which would be vetted by election officials before a ballot is cast.
    Jack Harvel April 10, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Back in 2020, expectations were rife that the office buildings JLL sources for companies around the world would stay vacant long after airlines were back to full passenger loads.
    Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 3 Apr. 2026
  • However, the awards are co-organised by Tokyo International Film Festival, and speculation has been rife that there were concerns about the optics had the ceremony taken place, as Japanese cinema has had a strong year and was likely to walk off with multiple prizes.
    Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Bronx Science is one of the highly competitive specialized New York City public high schools where access to a free, élite education rests on a single admissions test.
    Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Taurus April 20 – May 20 This evening spotlights your public voice.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The group noted the projection was revised upward from an earlier estimate owing to an additional year in the budget window and higher prevailing interest rates.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Likewise, prevailing concepts of Hamlet at the time cast the prince as a wan and melancholic, leading critics to bristle at Bernhardt’s energy.
    Betsy Golden Kellem, JSTOR Daily, 18 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pandemic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pandemic. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.

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