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
Related Words
Relevance
as in widespread
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pandemic
Paula Wethington, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
After working a variety of sales jobs, Trottier began creating and selling art through Instagram during the pandemic, a hobby that quickly evolved into a small business.
—Kase Wickman, Vanity Fair, 10 Mar. 2026
Alina Selyukh, NPR, 11 Mar. 2026
Similar declines are occurring in other California cities and across the nation, as crime continues to drop from pandemic-era highs.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pandemic
Noun
This program was among the assistance efforts that Congress created in response to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and was aimed at helping small businesses and non-profit organizations get through the immediate economic impact.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
After working a variety of sales jobs, Trottier began creating and selling art through Instagram during the pandemic, a hobby that quickly evolved into a small business.
—Kase Wickman, Vanity Fair, 10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
During the pandemic, mostly unregulated lenders went after struggling restaurants and music venues, charging at times sky high rates.
—Alina Selyukh, NPR, 11 Mar. 2026
Similar declines are occurring in other California cities and across the nation, as crime continues to drop from pandemic-era highs.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pandemic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pandemic
Noun
-
This backward incentive pushes patients toward the drugs that helped fuel the opioid epidemic in the first place.—
Saul Anuzis,
Boston Herald,
6 Mar. 2026
-
At the top of the pyramid stood a chief executive officer who marketed the company’s work as the antidote to the opioid epidemic.—
Sam Tabachnik,
Denver Post,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
If the fog becomes more widespread, a Dense Fog Advisory may be needed.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Mar. 2026
-
More widespread thunderstorms are expected late Tuesday into early Wednesday, March 11, according to the NWS.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Hanson, who spends much of his life crawling through underbrush to count trees, plunged ahead into stands of chest-high ceanothus, pointing out sequoias camouflaged in the pervasive post-fire brush.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The case back then also involved the bodies of naked, mutilated women, plus all the sexism and homophobia that were pervasive in police work in 1998 and are apparently ship-shape today.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Those softer skills may become even more valuable as AI becomes more prevalent, freeing up time to spend on deeper relationships and more clients.—
Allison Schrager,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Advertisement For instance, deepfakes will become more advanced and prevalent over time.—
Don Aviv,
Time,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The legislation would cut $131 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
-
In general, the singers class up the production.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
Speculation has been rife that HTC isn’t in fact manufacturing the phones internally, but had commissioned an ODM — original design manufacturer — to produce the hardware.—
Dominic Preston,
The Verge,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
At stake is the group’s editorial independence — and whether its journalists will continue to report freely without fear of state pressure — as well as public trust in one of East Africa’s most influential media institutions.—
Vivianne Wandera,
semafor.com,
13 Mar. 2026
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Thursday’s release marks the first public disclosure and documented confirmation of a Federal Bureau of Investigation probe that has roiled Kansas City politics over the last month.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Harvesting seed nearby is a way to get plants that are genetically adapted to the prevailing environmental conditions and are more likely to thrive.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Jan. 2026
-
In the northern United States, enjoying the starry winter sky requires protection against the prevailing low temperatures.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pandemic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pandemic. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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