epidemic 1 of 2

noun

Definition of epidemicnext
1
as in pandemic

Related Words

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2
as in eruption

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

epidemic

2 of 2

adjective

ˌe-pə-ˈde-mik How to pronounce epidemic (audio)
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

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 epidemic
Noun
Matus’ death took place at the height of the fentanyl epidemic in 2022, when Riverside County jails experienced close to 100 inmate drug overdoses, seven of which resulted in death, according to court documents. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 This January, Maryland should stop relying on the resilience of children to survive a preventable epidemic and finally demand accountability from the adults entrusted with keeping them safe. — Brittany Berlin, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026
Adjective
Autism, insulin resistance, and autoimmune diagnoses have reached epidemic proportions. — David Ferry, Wired News, 10 Dec. 2025 From Breath To Burnout The early identification of imbalances caused by chronic stress resonates deeply in our current health climate, where burnout, emotional exhaustion and cognitive fatigue are silently epidemic. — Trisha Swift, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for epidemic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for epidemic
  1. pandemic
  2. eruption
  3. infectious
  4. plague
  5. explosion
  6. pestilence
  7. upswing
  8. increase
Noun
  • Data show vehicle stops by the LAPD have plummeted by 57% since the pandemic.
    — Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • In the 10 years leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic, the consulting firm McKinsey found, spending on noninstructional services grew four times faster than spending on teaching.
    — Jon Marcus, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of pandemic
Noun
  • Roads, vehicles and buildings in several villages in Karo affected by the eruption were covered in gray ash.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Seeing the Braves compete in this series with the Dodgers, from the walk-off win to the ace performances to the timely snags to Truist Park’s eruptions, hearkened back memories of October 2021.
    — Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of eruption
Adjective
  • The portable machine uses pulses of full-spectrum ultraviolet light to kill infectious germs inside hospital rooms.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Multiple baby goats at a North Carolina mobile petting zoo had rabies and may have been in direct contact with people at events while infectious, state health officials said Friday.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of infectious
Noun
  • But on an ordinary mission, Hawks discovers a bizarre magic plague, a secret plan hatched by the Separatist army, and a contract with Republic intelligence to take on jobs the army can’t do.
    — Hayes Madsen, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Most people go to campgrounds to escape the plagues of modern technology, so try to keep the decibels to a minimum.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of plague
Noun
  • That has led to an explosion in interest in the annual Pacific leaders meeting, which has grown from a casual affair to a summit with 2,000 attendees.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026
  • More messages arrived over Discord, X, WhatsApp, and even from a colleague who had been asked by a friend to see whether Fabian would correct his story to say that the explosion had been caused by interceptor fragments.
    — Finn Brunton, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of explosion
Noun
  • As famine, war, pestilence and death galloped through, religious thought had been taking on an apocalyptic and self-abnegatory fervor.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 July 2026
  • Some of those tombstones explicitly referred to a pestilence as the cause of death.
    — Marc Zimmer, The Conversation, 12 May 2026
Definition of pestilence
Noun
  • IndyCar’s upswing also comes at a time when Formula 1’s viewership is in steep decline over 2025 in America.
    — Maury Brown, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Last season, however, should provide some optimism that their team might be on an unexpected upswing.
    — Josh Yohe, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of upswing
Noun
  • Driving the increase in murder charges in fatal crashes are a few factors, Cherney and McClain agree.
    — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Over the past three months, international futures markets saw cocoa rise by more than 60% cumulatively, coffee gain over 30%, and raw sugar futures increase by nearly 30%.
    — , CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of increase

Browse Nearby Words

epicures
epidemic
epidemics
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Cite this Entry

“Epidemic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/epidemic. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on epidemic

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about epidemic

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