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
The James Beard Foundation has handed out the awards annually since 1991, save for 2020 and 2021 when the pandemic put the ceremony on pause. Brock Keeling, Daily News, 16 June 2026 During the Covid-19 pandemic, when many families were spending more time at home together, Fishel saw a resurgence in the prevalence of family dinners. Elise Haulund, CNN Money, 16 June 2026
Adjective
The decline of the area’s office market — notably in downtown Hartford and north of Hartford — was hastened by the pandemic and a shift of an increasing number of workers splitting time between home and office. Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2026 Prosecutors described the case as the largest pandemic fraud scheme in the country, saying Bock diverted tens of millions in federal money intended to feed hungry children. Eric Henderson, CBS News, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for pandemic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pandemic
Noun
  • The impersonal nature of safe burial practices and the severity of the epidemic were evident on Friday as only healthcare workers in protective gear were allowed to handle the coffin and the burial.
    ABC News, ABC News, 19 June 2026
  • An experimental fentanyl vaccine that has spent years in development is now entering a new phase, offering new hope in the fight against the nation's ongoing overdose epidemic.
    Gino Vicci, CBS News, 18 June 2026
Adjective
  • But the sight of fire and smoke engulfing the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a UNESCO World Heritage site founded in 1051, drew significant and widespread condemnation.
    Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 15 June 2026
  • Any places where such intense rainfall persists for several hours could have widespread flooding impacts.
    Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 15 June 2026
Adjective
  • Guns are both pervasive and fiercely defended in Missouri, where political ads are often awash in firearms.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 17 June 2026
  • Energy insecurity is a pervasive and potentially dangerous predicament for these millions of households, and a growing challenge for America as energy bills rise.
    Alexandra Klass, The Conversation, 17 June 2026
Adjective
  • The broad category here is algorithmic trading, which has been around for years and is, by the Commission’s own account, now the prevalent form of trading in key gas benchmarks and is used by most if not all participants in EU spot and derivatives gas markets.
    Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
  • Independent butchers are rare these days, as chain grocery stores with in-house butchers have become more prevalent.
    Emily M. Olson, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2026
Adjective
  • Sox general manager Chris Getz is simply giving more opportunities to his prospects after recently giving Rikuu Nishida a brief taste of the majors.
    Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026
  • The budget projects the district’s unrestricted general fund will end this year at $62 million in the red.
    Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 19 June 2026
Adjective
  • Indeed, Sta Rita Hills is one of my personal favorite regions for pinot and chardonnay and the estate is rife with challenges—lousy soil, wind, and the chilling influence of the Pacific Ocean.
    Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
  • Social media has been rife with stories of fans visiting the United States and discovering ranch, along with some of America's most calorie-laden condiments.
    Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026
Adjective
  • Foreclosure proceedings began in August 2025, and the property was later approved for a public auction, NBC Connecticut reported.
    Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 19 June 2026
  • The death of Jameson has sparked outrage and questions across the city, prompting Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell to promise a full investigation and Mayor Karen Bass to offer a public tribute to the dog.
    Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 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 22 Jun. 2026.

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