epidemic 1 of 2

noun

Definition of epidemicnext
1
as in pandemic

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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
By 2018, America's school shooting epidemic had taken a toll on me. — Steve Hartman, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026 But the largest Ebola epidemic on record remains the 2014-2016 outbreak in West Africa. — ABC News, 19 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
  • Things could be better, which goes without saying in the aftermath of a flu pandemic that has wiped out most of the planet’s human population, but the four principals here could also be dead, so there’s that.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Yet the pandemic affirms Prem’s view that the public and private sectors need to work together in a health crisis.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of pandemic
Noun
  • Sonic booms, volcanic eruptions and meteor airbursts can produce similar atmospheric shock waves, potentially creating other natural seismic sources.
    — Nolan Roth, Scientific American, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The eruption also generated roughly 360 cubic miles (1,500 cubic kilometers) of pyroclastic-density-current deposits.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of eruption
Adjective
  • On a recent episode of Therapuss, all Jake Shane needed to say was the word Boston and the episode’s guest, singer Role Model, began to croon Lefty’s infectious chorus.
    — Abigail Sylvor Greenberg, Vanity Fair, 21 Aug. 2026
  • He is being remembered for his infectious smile, magnetic personality, and for being grounded in his faith.
    — Marissa Sulek, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of infectious
Noun
  • Many of us hear talk of plague and think that humanity, as ever, will manage to muddle through.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The two soon stumble back into the cult that created the plague doctor — a cult in which people are killed and resurrected, taken apart and rebuilt.
    — S.M. Hallow, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of plague
Noun
  • The explosions provide different interruptions, punctuating the moment as one of Keeley’s ideas plays out in real time.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Though the threat of an explosion was mitigated in early June, cleanup didn't begin until the very end of the month.
    — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 25 Aug. 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
  • The Treasury’s intervention helped boost risky bets, triggering an upswing in crypto prices.
    — Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 21 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
  • The typical small business faces premium increases of 14% next year, based on a preliminary analysis by KFF.
    — Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Australia’s National Emergency Management Agency has warned that the growing trend of concurrent and cascading disasters is expected to continue and, in many cases, increase.
    — Milad Haghani, Scientific American, 27 Aug. 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 29 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on epidemic

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about epidemic

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