1
as in infectious
capable of being passed by physical contact from one person to another chicken pox, measles, German measles, and other contagious diseases

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in spreading
exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others the enthusiasm of the new club members was contagious

Synonyms & Similar Words

Examples 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 contagious The two illnesses are both contagious and feature similar symptoms, but are caused by different viruses and can have different onset periods, the CDC said. Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 2 Dec. 2024 Eggers certainly loves the guy, and Skarsgård’s ultra-committed performance allows the film to enjoy a contagious pleasure in returning the vampire archetype to its more bestial origins. David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 2 Dec. 2024 The child experienced mild symptoms, and the levels of bird flu detected were low, so they were not believed to be contagious. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2024 Mumps is contagious and has no specific cure, but the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine reduces your risk of getting sick. Sarah Bradley, Health, 28 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for contagious 

Thesaurus Entries Near contagious

Cite this Entry

“Contagious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contagious. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on contagious

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!