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
Zach Dyer, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
Being homeless was perceived, by themselves and by others, as an individual failure, the result of a series of poor choices, ignoring the fact that a tech boom had priced many people out of their homes and a drug epidemic had ravaged many parts of the city.
—Saumya Roy, The Dial, 6 Jan. 2026
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
Noun
Hurley said older friends and acquaintances who survived the AIDS epidemic shared the horror of living through a time when there was no effective treatment or drugs for prevention.
—Adjective
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.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for epidemic
Noun
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Like schools across the country, Epic received federal relief funds to operate during the pandemic.—
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Mortgage rates began to climb as inflation spiked coming out of the global pandemic, with the consumer price index hitting a four-decade high in 2022.—
Noun
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But scientists still can’t fully predict how big an eruption will be, which can affect planning to help deal with the potential consequences on Earth.—
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While tantrums seem to come out of nowhere, striking with speed and intensity at the most inopportune times, scientists have been zeroing in on the buildup that can be underway for some time before an eruption.—
Adjective
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His infectious enthusiasm for books opened doors to other roles, like being named the new host of Reading Rainbow and the resident librarian at PBS.—
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Dustin — a fan-favorite from the very first episode because of his infectious optimism and unapologetic nerdiness — is no exception.—
Noun
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Crucially, the eggs were fittingly fluffy, none of that rubbery nonsense that plague lesser burrito slingers.—
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Now the government is out to quash this plague of poor decision making.—
Noun
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Local media also reported that several explosions were heard before the fire began.—
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Jonathan Taylor’s offensive explosion helped push the Indianapolis Colts past the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday in the first NFL regular-season game in Berlin, 31-25, in overtime.—
Noun
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Famines, pestilence, crusades, and war.—
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Judith is the recipient of the pestilence, Agnes stays by her side, Dad is M.I.A.—
Noun
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The South Bay gained 400 jobs in November, an upswing that ended four consecutive months of job losses.—
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But given that global demand for coal, oil, and gas all hit record highs in 2025, and aren’t going away anytime soon, there are still lots of strong bets to make in anticipation of an eventual upswing in the fossil fuel price cycle.—
Noun
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Chance of lightning increases as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is overhead.—
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Hopper saw a 40% increase in air travelers, adding its Disruption Assistance feature – which allows users to instantly rebook if their flight is delayed or canceled, or get a refund – overnight following the DOT’s announcement.—
Cite this Entry
“Epidemic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/epidemic. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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