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

Related Words

Relevance

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
By happenstance, the high risk report was released just as a scandal was erupting in Minnesota over widespread fraud in a program meant to keep children fed during the pandemic. Dan Walters, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026 The wealth-equals-health dynamic played out glaringly in Orange County during the pandemic. Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Listings run 23% below pre-pandemic 2018-19 levels in the six California metros, compared with 5% below in the 43 out-of-state metros tracked. Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 14 Jan. 2026 Analysts at Wells Fargo Investment Institute expect $517 billion in tax refunds to be issued this year, which would be the biggest refund-year since 2017, excluding years of pandemic-era stimulus payments. Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 14 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pandemic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pandemic
Noun
  • The charity had generated $200 million to support patients, hospital staff and volunteers on the frontline of the health crisis over the years of the epidemic.
    Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
  • The grants included drug prevention programs in schools, treatment and recovery programs for mental health and substance use, and harm reduction strategies amid the nation’s opioid epidemic.
    Ellie Roth, Twin Cities, 7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The fertilizers engorged the Everglades on nutrients, especially phosphorus, leading to the widespread proliferation of cattails.
    Amy Green, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Amid widespread corruption under Chávez, as journalist Anne Appelbaum noted in a 2024 book, hundreds of billions of dollars were siphoned off from PDVSA and other Venezuelan companies and subsequently disappeared into private bank accounts around the world.
    Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • In a world in which that kind of alienation is pervasive, Cash’s look is refreshing.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
  • Vibe coding is one of the most pervasive trends to emerge from the generative AI boom, and the momentum has continued to pick up to start 2026.
    Jasmine Wu,Deirdre Bosa, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Though the journalists were released within hours, the National Press Workers’ Union issued a poignant statement denouncing the fact that twenty-three of their members were still behind bars, and that censorship remained prevalent in Venezuela.
    Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026
  • International transfers are increasingly prevalent, and payment solutions are more accessible.
    Jason Phillips, Kansas City Star, 6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • After setting a new standard for the organization in 2025, general manager Dan Morgan, head coach Dave Canales and their respective staffs need to raise the bar even higher.
    Mike Kaye January 12, Charlotte Observer, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Daniel McFadin is a general assignment reporter who has been with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette since October 2022.
    Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Anxiety over job loss is rife among white-collar employees, and those concerns might now be manifesting in the data.
    Tristan Bove, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Speculation is rife over Venezuela’s political future.
    Ciaran Donnelly, Time, 11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The Trust for Public Land releases a yearly ranking of major cities in the US based on their residents’ access to public recreation areas – the city of Los Angeles ranks an embarrassing 90th, highlighting that access is undoubtedly a concern.
    Rafael Perez, Daily News, 16 Jan. 2026
  • In each case, agents shot at drivers or into moving cars – a practice that has largely been discouraged by law enforcement because of risks to public safety.
    Christopher Cann, USA Today, 16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Council members asked questions about rerouting bus traffic through the site, whether the construction jobs would pay prevailing wages, the amount of public open space available within the project, and the percentage of apartments reserved for low-income tenants.
    Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026
  • The monthly stochastic oscillator remains in overbought territory ( > 80%), underscoring the strength of the prevailing bullish trend rather than signaling exhaustion.
    Katie Stockton, CNBC, 15 Dec. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

More from Merriam-Webster on pandemic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!