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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of epidemic
Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2025
In an era marked by a global epidemic of loneliness — so severe that, two years ago, our surgeon general issued a national advisory and countries such as France, Japan and the UK appointed Ministers of Loneliness — Israel’s enduring culture of mutual responsibility stood out.
—Rchin Bari, Boston Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
Gary Stix, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2024
The number of colleges cutting back programs, merging and closing has reached epidemic proportions.
—Scott White, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for epidemic
Adjective
Over the past year, folk singer Jesse Welles has become an unlikely star thanks to protest songs about everything from ICE raids and the health care industry to the opioid epidemic and the invasion of Ukraine.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2025
In an era marked by a global epidemic of loneliness — so severe that, two years ago, our surgeon general issued a national advisory and countries such as France, Japan and the UK appointed Ministers of Loneliness — Israel’s enduring culture of mutual responsibility stood out.
—Rchin Bari, Boston Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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
The number of colleges cutting back programs, merging and closing has reached epidemic proportions.
—Scott White, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for epidemic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for epidemic
Adjective
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The infectious energy and Justin Bieber-style appeal of 25-year-old country hitmaker Bailey Zimmerman was not reflected in the CMA nominations.—
Marcus K. Dowling,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
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For example, a range of different infectious pathogens and diseases can lead to different chronic medical conditions such as COVID-19 leading to long COVID, human papillomavirus to cervical cancer, Helicobacter pylori to stomach ulcers and cancer, Epstein-Barr Virus to lymphoma.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Hilleary, at the campaign event, also harshly criticized Biden’s immigration policies and his administration’s approach to the COVID-19 pandemic.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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After connecting at an event in late 2019, the couple spent lockdown together during the COVID-19 pandemic, eventually leaving their bubble and getting engaged in October 2024.—
Carrie Wittmer,
Glamour,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Around the time of this flip, solar activity gradually ramps up, causing more solar eruptions like solar flares and coronal mass ejections.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
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The tour also visits Heimaey, Vestmannaeyjar’s only inhabited island, and the lava fields created by the 1973 volcanic eruption.—
Mia Taylor,
Boston Herald,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In 2003, the city of Chicago participated in TOPOFF 2, a national terrorism response exercise simulating a radiological attack in Seattle and the release of pneumonic plague in Chicago.—
Lauren Buitta,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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Fantasy romance trilogy The Magic of the Lost barrels to its epic conclusion, following The Faithless’ one-two punch of the Withering plague returning to Balladaire and queen Luca asking soldier Touraine to be her general and her wife.—
Natalie Zutter
September 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The more massive stars can produce heavier elements such as carbon, oxygen and nitrogen, all the way up to iron, in a sequence of fusion reactions that end in a supernova explosion.—
Luke Keller,
Space.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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But two years ago, as the latest wave of artificial intelligence began reshaping education, Leskovec told Fortune he was rocked by the explosion of his field into the mainstream.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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While pestilence crept over the walls of cities and the countryside fell into desolation—many foreign conquerors of Europe knew how to fight and plunder but not to plow or sow—the monks preserved words.—
Bernd Roeck
June 16,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2025
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In recent years, the censorship and false narratives of woke cancel culture have transformed our great universities into greenhouses for this deadly and virulent pestilence.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The Club stock resumed its recent upswing with a 2% gain Thursday.—
Natasha Abellard,
CNBC,
11 Sep. 2025
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The stock still appears relatively undervalued versus peers, with potential for an additional trillion-dollar upswing if further rulings are favorable; another decision due on September 10 could shape the next move.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile, the West Coast may see continued increases ahead in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Nevada due to seasonal refinery maintenance and the shutdown of a refinery in Southern California, which will keep supply tight.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
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But an increase in appreciation and funding isn’t the only thing needed to improve special education.—
IndyStar,
IndyStar,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Epidemic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/epidemic. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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