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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spreading
exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others
the enthusiasm of the new club members was contagious
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Recent Examples of contagious
In that film, unassuming victims are put into a hypnotic trance by a psychic killer to then do his murdering for him, only for that violence to become even more contagious.
—
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 Mar. 2026
Measles is extraordinarily contagious.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
Chicago police sources said he was being quarantined for something that's suspected to be contagious, possibly Tuberculosis.
—Adam Sabes , Cb Cotton, FOXNews.com, 23 Mar. 2026
The contagious infection was first detected among young people at the University of Kent in England.
—Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contagious
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 Mar. 2026
Measles is extraordinarily contagious.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
Chicago police sources said he was being quarantined for something that's suspected to be contagious, possibly Tuberculosis.
—Adam Sabes , Cb Cotton, FOXNews.com, 23 Mar. 2026
The contagious infection was first detected among young people at the University of Kent in England.
—Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contagious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contagious
Adjective
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Resort manager Puspa, born in a small village on the east of Bali, can tell you everything there is to know about the local traditions, while farm manager Wayan’s passion for sustainable agriculture is infectious.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
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That said, whole-virus vaccines can cause more unpleasant side effects, and in rare cases, weakened live pathogens can redevelop infectious capability.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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His provisional cause of death was given as multi-organ failure due to infective endocarditis, a rare infection of the inner lining or valves of the heart.—
Daniel Taylor,
The Athletic,
26 Feb. 2025
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On July 30, Ray updated her fans again, revealing her diagnosis of infective endocarditis, a severe heart infection.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
31 July 2024
Cite this Entry
“Contagious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contagious. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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