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widespread

adjective

ˈwīd-ˈspred How to pronounce widespread (audio)
Definition of widespreadnext
as in extensive
having considerable extent a widespread area of drought

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 widespread Central Florida will see more widespread showers and thunderstorms this weekend and into next week as a disturbance moves across the region and brings additional moisture, according to the National Weather Service in Melbourne. — Keily Alfonzo, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026 While her dad passed down his green thumb to her, ever since their family cultivated a victory garden for the troops during World War II, Stewart pointed out that gardening has been gaining widespread popularity in recent months. — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026 At the University of Texas, Republican Bo French drew widespread, bipartisan condemnation for his attack on South Asian students celebrating their football team’s win. — Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2026 The emergency stems from a sharp rise in high-risk methamphetamine use, with widespread needle sharing among drug users acting as a primary driver for the surging infection rates, the AP reported. — Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for widespread
Recent Examples of Synonyms for widespread
  1. extensive
  2. broad
  3. wide
  4. sweeping
  5. deep
Adjective
  • The 60-seat restaurant is known for its cooked-to-perfection aged steaks, seafood towers, classic cocktails and extensive wine list.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Despite the extensive search, investigators never found the gun, a Tipp City detective testified Monday during Flynn's murder trial in Ohio.
    — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of extensive
Adjective
  • ConnCORP, meanwhile, is spearheading First HAVEN, a broader $200 million redevelopment project in Dixwell.
    — P.R. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Instead, it is intended to become a broader technology ecosystem combining private companies, investment, research and development and military testing.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of broad
Adjective
  • Available in both standard and wide sizes, this sneaker is designed with shock absorption to keep you feeling light on your feet.
    — Cheryl Wagemann, InStyle, 25 Sep. 2026
  • In amphibians, chytridiomycosis causes a wide variety of symptoms including skin damage, red skin, convulsions, and eventually leads to heart failure.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of wide
Adjective
  • Atmosphere is a sweeping romance between two pioneering female astronauts breaking into NASA in the early days of the shuttle program in the late ’70s and early ’80s.
    — Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2026
  • In the sweeping farmlands near the Central Coast, a seed supplier that cultivates peppers, vegetables and fruit was hit with more than two dozen pesticide safety violations, some of them serious offenses that caused health or environmental hazards.
    — Robert J. Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of sweeping
Adjective
  • Like other Vionic shoes, these have a deep heel cup to stabilize the foot and ankle.
    — Cheryl Wagemann, InStyle, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Such abandonment wounds are deep and destabilizing; the younger the child, the deeper the wound and the harder to form a sense of self and of value as an adult.
    — Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of deep

Browse Nearby Words

wide-ranging
widespread
widget
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Widespread.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/widespread. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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