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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as in widespread
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pandemic
Adam Harrington, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
The pandemic reshaped our homes as many people started working and attending school from home.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Mar. 2026
semafor.com, 4 Mar. 2026
Witness the pandemic journaling projects that started soon after the Covid-19 pandemic.
—Literary Hub, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pandemic
Noun
The parade was not held in 2020 or 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but has been back strong as ever since 2022.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
The pandemic reshaped our homes as many people started working and attending school from home.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Nine African central banks have lowered borrowing costs in recent weeks — including DR Congo, Kenya, and Nigeria — with policymakers citing slower inflation after years of price rises driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s war in Ukraine.
—semafor.com, 4 Mar. 2026
Witness the pandemic journaling projects that started soon after the Covid-19 pandemic.
—Literary Hub, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pandemic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pandemic
Noun
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The epidemic claimed a generation of parents, leaving family members like Collins raising more children on less.—
Cecilia Vega,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
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Gun violence was epidemic throughout the country; violent crime rates reached their historic peaks in many American cities.—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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British architects Alison and Peter Smithson can also be credited with the widespread use of the name.—
Katherine McLaughlin,
Architectural Digest,
2 Mar. 2026
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Iranian regime change is considered a complicated matter due to the regime’s deep roots in the country — despite widespread opposition — and the political vacuum could evolve in unpredictable ways.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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But Lampros says that the work his team is doing has only revealed a pervasive problem that law enforcement alone is not solving.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Mar. 2026
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Meanwhile, human error remains pervasive.—
William Warr,
Time,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Synthetic videos generated by artificial intelligence, widely known as deepfakes, are becoming increasingly prevalent on the internet.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
28 Feb. 2026
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Many people don’t think about bone health until later in life, when issues like osteopenia (low bone density), osteoporosis (weak, brittle bones), and hip fractures become more prevalent.—
Jenny McCoy,
Outside,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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And there is a general lack of a clear approach.—
Philipp Lahm,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
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Major rainfall in December and early February created ideal breeding conditions, said Susanne Kluh, general manager for the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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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
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Starring Channing Tatum, Gemma Chan, Mason Reeves, Philip Ettinger, Syra McCarthy, the drama was one of the buzziest titles to debut at Park City this year and speculation has been rife over who would take domestic rights.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Political logic Netanyahu has for decades framed Iran as Israel’s primary existential threat, shaping Israel’s security policy, diplomatic efforts and public discourse around it.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
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Neither Sanders nor Van Hollen calls for using new revenue from their taxes to reduce the federal deficit, which is close to $2 trillion annually, and then there's a long and expensive to-do list that ranges from universal child care to free public colleges and universities.—
JEFF STEIN THE WASHINGTON POST,
Arkansas Online,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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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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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 7 Mar. 2026.
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