pandemic 1 of 2

noun

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

as in widespread

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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
Humanoid startup LimX Dynamics is getting ready to go public, just over four years after it was founded during the pandemic. — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 14 July 2026 Lloyd Webber, who was also a big part of the West End’s reopening efforts after the pandemic, called on the industry to find a solution. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026
Adjective
When the pandemic hit, the singer was studying at Ole Miss and found his way to songwriting. — Naomi Jeffries, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026 Then the pandemic winter of 2020-21 arrived, and the butterflies did not. — Literary Hub, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for pandemic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pandemic
  1. epidemic
  2. widespread
  3. pervasive
  4. prevalent
  5. general
  6. rife
  7. public
  8. prevailing
Noun
  • The Software-First Reflex When officials began declaring the epidemic, the industry's response was almost entirely digital.
    — Antonia Bremeyer, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • As head of one of Chicago’s busiest trauma centers, Rogers has played a critical role in responding to Chicago’s gun violence epidemic.
    — Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026
Definition of epidemic
Adjective
  • In that operation, federal agents randomly chased people in shopping centers, neighborhoods and a church grounds — making arrests, prompting businesses to close and causing widespread fear among immigrant communities.
    — Diamy Wang July 13, Charlotte Observer, 14 July 2026
  • Pakistan experiences heavy monsoon rains every year and the downpours frequently trigger floods and landslides that cause deaths and widespread damage.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
Definition of widespread
Adjective
  • Still, while growth will become more pervasive, the median S & P 500 company is projected to show second-quarter EPS growth of 8%.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 14 July 2026
  • The image became so pervasive that Deschamps, the French coach, felt compelled to declare that Mbappé is actually a lovely teammate, not a despot.
    — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 10 July 2026
Definition of pervasive
Adjective
  • FoodNet also never monitored cyclospora in Michigan, where the outbreak has been the most prevalent.
    — Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • Pleating, meanwhile, was another prevalent way for designers to replicate the look of ancient statuary.
    — Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 16 July 2026
Definition of prevalent
Adjective
  • The county’s airports are financed through an enterprise fund rather than the county general fund.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026
  • Additional construction will add 71 patient rooms and a Surgical Trauma Progressive Care Unit, which will provide care for patients who do not require intensive care, but are not stable enough for a general medical surgical unit.
    — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 2026
Definition of general
Adjective
  • Speculation was rife; one unproven theory was that someone had heated the sensor with a hairdryer.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • The returnees have strained local communities, many of which already have scant resources in a country where poverty is rife and malnutrition stalks the most vulnerable.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Definition of rife
Adjective
  • The move follows months of public discussion, including an online survey — open through July 15, a community meeting and feedback from the Zoning Commission, which recommended denying the current draft proposal to allow additional review.
    — Ken Molestina, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • The department didn’t provide details on why the officer believed Guerrero was a public safety risk.
    — Caroll Alvarado, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
Definition of public
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
Definition of prevailing

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pandemic
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Cite this Entry

“Pandemic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pandemic. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pandemic

Nglish: Translation of pandemic for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pandemic

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