1
as in infectious
exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others
the little girl's giggles were epidemic, and soon the entire gathering was laughing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of epidemic
CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Japan’s epidemic from 2012 to 2014 was so bad that researchers discovered a temporary drop in the country’s fertility rates that coincided with a spike in Google searches for the Japanese word for rubella.
—Patricia Callahan, ProPublica, 19 Mar. 2026
Byjon Cohen, science.org, 9 Dec. 2024
More than two millennia later, health officials are paying new attention to this old condition for a startling reason: myopia has reached epidemic levels worldwide.
—Gary Stix, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for epidemic
Noun
But this psychogenic epidemic is real and unprecedented.
—CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Japan’s epidemic from 2012 to 2014 was so bad that researchers discovered a temporary drop in the country’s fertility rates that coincided with a spike in Google searches for the Japanese word for rubella.
—Patricia Callahan, ProPublica, 19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
But some researchers say the response should not be limited to the epidemic hot spots in big cities.
—Byjon Cohen, science.org, 9 Dec. 2024
More than two millennia later, health officials are paying new attention to this old condition for a startling reason: myopia has reached epidemic levels worldwide.
—Gary Stix, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for epidemic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for epidemic
Noun
-
Fund the vaccine platforms before the next pandemic, not after.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Voting by mail was also critical during the pandemic.—
ORLANDO SENTINEL AND MIAMI HERALD EDITORIAL BOARDS,
The Orlando Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The last eruption of nationwide gatherings in October drew approximately 7 million people, according to their tally.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Mar. 2026
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Aurora chasers will also be getting excited about the prospect of a possible glancing blow from the speedy CME released during the eruption.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
30 Mar. 2026
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
Noun
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The team treats patients against a backdrop of all-too-common American societal plagues, from substance use disorder to medical bankruptcies and mass shootings.—
Jeffrey Tully,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Anthrax in early Egypt may have been one of the plagues described in the Bible.—
Hannah Kinzer,
The Conversation,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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After an accidental explosion in a West Village bomb factory killed three Weathermen, those who survived, shaken by their friends’ deaths, swore off deadly violence.—
Zayd Ayers Dohrn,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Journalists heard several explosions from the direction of the Hezbollah stronghold, which Israel has repeatedly struck since war began.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
As an example, the celestial dog was thought to aid the sun in causing the intense heat, drought and pestilence of summer.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Famines, pestilence, crusades, and war.—
Greg Grandin
September 23,
Literary Hub,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Houses then become a better deal, demand and prices rise, and that’s precisely when the own-to-rent crowd put more of their holdings up for sale, helping balance the market and contain the upswing.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
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The increase follows an upswing in arrests and deportations across the state.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Critics of these no tax increase bonds argue that instead of the debt having an end date when it will be paid off, taxpayers have to chip away at debt for a longer length of time.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2026
-
With its PrecisionCore Heat-Free technology, the ink dries quickly to avoid smudging, while the two-sided printing capabilities increase efficiency.—
George Yang,
PC Magazine,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Epidemic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/epidemic. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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