as in epidemics
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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Recent Examples of pandemics
So Smith and his team had to find new ways to get the funding to countries, ensure that it was being spent wisely and address potential pandemics — all without most of the international partners and staff the government had previously relied on to carry out this complex work.
—
Sharon Lerner,
ProPublica,
17 June 2026
The universal vaccine can therefore curb outbreaks and even prevent future pandemics.
—
Devika Rao,
TheWeek,
10 June 2026
Maternal deaths are finally back down to their prepandemic levels in California — and the numbers hold some lessons for future pandemics, investigators said.
—
Ariane Lange,
Sacbee.com,
23 May 2026
The majority of emerging infectious diseases in humans, including most, if not all, pandemics since 1918, originated in animals.
—
Neil Vora,
Time,
22 May 2026
On September 12, 2015, more than three dozen health experts and diplomats assembled at the Palais des Nations, the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva, for a day-long conference on preparing for pandemics.
—
Jessica Mathews,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
Cutting community healthcare workers also has implications for future preparedness for other pandemics, experts have warned.
—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
7 May 2026
Published in 1978, Tuchman’s history still feels current – there are pandemics, oligarchs, inequality, misinformation campaigns and endless warring, to name a few things that continue to bedevil us.
—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
1 May 2026
Recessions, depressions, wars, pandemics, political meddling, stock market crashes, regulation, and recalls have repeatedly threatened carmakers’ continued survival.
—
Jamie Lincoln Kitman,
Rolling Stone,
24 Apr. 2026
Sharon Lerner,
ProPublica,
17 June 2026
The universal vaccine can therefore curb outbreaks and even prevent future pandemics.
—
Devika Rao,
TheWeek,
10 June 2026
Maternal deaths are finally back down to their prepandemic levels in California — and the numbers hold some lessons for future pandemics, investigators said.
—
Ariane Lange,
Sacbee.com,
23 May 2026
The majority of emerging infectious diseases in humans, including most, if not all, pandemics since 1918, originated in animals.
—
Neil Vora,
Time,
22 May 2026
On September 12, 2015, more than three dozen health experts and diplomats assembled at the Palais des Nations, the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva, for a day-long conference on preparing for pandemics.
—
Jessica Mathews,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
Cutting community healthcare workers also has implications for future preparedness for other pandemics, experts have warned.
—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
7 May 2026
Published in 1978, Tuchman’s history still feels current – there are pandemics, oligarchs, inequality, misinformation campaigns and endless warring, to name a few things that continue to bedevil us.
—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
1 May 2026
Recessions, depressions, wars, pandemics, political meddling, stock market crashes, regulation, and recalls have repeatedly threatened carmakers’ continued survival.
—
Jamie Lincoln Kitman,
Rolling Stone,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pandemics.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pandemics. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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