virus

noun

Definition of virusnext
as in disease

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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 Interestingly, a greater percentage of the patients who tested negative had been vaccinated during an earlier Ebola outbreak in the region with Merck’s Ervebo vaccine, which protects against the Zaire species of the virus. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 5 Aug. 2026 Through July 31, California had recorded 1,464 mosquito samples, 288 dead birds, 12 sentinel chickens and three horses that tested positive for the virus, according to CDPH. — Sacbee.com, 5 Aug. 2026 Just two weeks after mosquitoes in the Pittsburgh area tested positive for West Nile Virus, additional samples have came back positive for the virus. — Finch Walker, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026 Seven days later, Congo declared an outbreak of Bundibugyo virus, an Ebola species for which there is no licensed vaccine and no specific treatment. — John Drake, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for virus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for virus
  1. disease
  2. contagion
Noun
  • However, pests, heat stress, and diseases like leaf spot can also cause leaf drop.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 4 Aug. 2026
  • But Covid-19 vaccines have consistently proved to provide significant protection against severe disease, hospitalization and death.
    — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of disease
Noun
  • An emotional contagion like panic is always possible, but Vilhauer does not think most people would react that way even to such paradigm-shifting news as nonhuman intelligence.
    — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Circuit breakers were triggered once again, and contagion across the region saw steep declines for the Nikkei, led by the big tech names.
    — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 28 July 2026
Definition of contagion

Browse Nearby Words

virulently
virus
viruses
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Cite this Entry

“Virus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/virus. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on virus

Nglish: Translation of virus for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about virus

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