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
Abbott framed this move in the context of the supply chain shocks during the Covid-19 pandemic that revealed how much the United States relies on imports for basic medical supplies. Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Mar. 2026 Non-media revenues have been growing at a 22% CAGR since the pandemic, though from a low base. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
During the pandemic, car production slowed due to factory closures and supply chain disruptions, though people kept buying vehicles. Rachel Barber, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026 During the pandemic, more than 93,000 people in Florida died from COVID. Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pandemic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pandemic
Noun
  • But the new research about their link comes at a time when the medical community is facing a historically devastating overdose epidemic — one that’s killed more than 450,000 Americans in the past five years.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Jayne Conroy, a lawyer on plaintiffs' trial team, was also an attorney for plaintiffs seeking to hold pharmaceutical companies responsible for the opioid epidemic.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Hours earlier, Israeli police had blocked the top Catholic leader in Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, from celebrating Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, drawing widespread criticism from Western leaders and diplomats.
    Peter Weber, TheWeek, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Species like Aspergillus thrive in warmer temperatures and changing environmental conditions, and widespread use of azole compounds in agriculture and medicine is driving drug resistance.
    Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Witches have been pervasive in movie history from the very beginning.
    Zach Dennis, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Several legislators declined to take an official stance and critics of the proposal say that the telework bill is a manifestation of labor’s pervasive influence in the Capitol.
    William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • While the data show overall birth outcomes improving — declining rates of prematurity, low birth weight, and infant mortality — disparities are still prevalent, particularly for Black women.
    Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Currently, scientists must predict which strains of flu virus will be prevalent in the coming season months in advance.
    Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • He was held at the Martin County Jail, though not with the general population.
    Melissa Gaffney, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
  • The all-volunteer Planning Commission considers matters related to land-use planning and development, implements the city’s general plan, reviews development applications and serves as an intermediary between the public and the City Council.
    Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 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
  • The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children shares the story of a woman in the community who called for a public Emergency Alert System.
    CBS Texas Staff, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Navarro, who had served on the board since 2015 and was briefly elected vice chair shortly before her resignation, was ultimately charged with multiple counts related to fraud and misuse of public funds.
    Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Pandemic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pandemic. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.

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