virus

noun

Definition of virusnext
as in disease

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 virus This marks the first losses related to the highly contagious virus within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 35 years. — Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026 Viruses from these species of bats have genetic sequences that are up to 96 percent identical to the human virus. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Aug. 2026 Measles is highly contagious respiratory virus that can spread easily between people, especially if they are not vaccinated. — Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 The World Health Organization estimates that in 2026 nearly 11 million people will contract the virus that causes measles. — Kathryn H. Jacobsen, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for virus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for virus
  1. disease
  2. contagion
Noun
  • But rates of cardiac disease have fallen in recent years, as the medical community pivots to managing cholesterol levels, hypertension and diabetes—all risk factors for heart disease.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The administration said 80% of insurers pledged changes to preauthorization requirements for 80% of diseases and injuries by January 2026.
    — Stephanie Armour, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of disease
Noun
  • Its crisis – along with those of other property giants – has been at the heart of a wider Chinese real-estate shock that has tested the world’s second-largest economy and threatened to spark a global contagion effect.
    — Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Many countries will benefit from similar hedgehog strategies that draw on the technological revolution favoring defense, insulating their territories against contagion.
    — Mark Leonard, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of contagion

Browse Nearby Words

virulently
virus
viruses
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Virus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/virus. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on virus

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about virus

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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of kith

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 28

Why do we say 'break a leg'?
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All