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 The agency analyzed the genetic sequence of the virus from the person who died in Washington and found no changes that would make the virus spread more easily or cause more severe illness, a CDC spokesperson said Monday. — ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026 The virus can cause fever, severe muscle and joint pain, nausea, rash and, in severe cases, dangerous complications or death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026 The report raised alarm because mink is a species that could give the virus opportunities to mutate to better spread among humans. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 2 Nov. 2026 By modifying the virus’s genetic sequence, the researchers could also control this adjuvant activity. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for virus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for virus
  1. disease
  2. contagion
Noun
  • At the time, Stratton was caring for her mother, who had Alzheimer’s disease.
    — Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Rabies is a viral disease that affects the nervous system and can be fatal in humans if treatment is not received before symptoms develop.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of disease
Noun
  • Last Thursday, the contagion reached chipmakers, which makes sense since much of CRWV and IREN's spending is going there.
    — Michael Khouw, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
  • There was little understanding of how contagion might spread, but the civic leaders intuited that physical distancing measures could lessen its effect.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 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 8 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on virus

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about virus

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of cockamamie

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

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

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

The Words of the Week - Nov. 6

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
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
woman sitting on floor holding book in front of her face on pink background
Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz Needless to say, spoiler alert.
See All