EPIDEMIC: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for EPIDEMIC?

Need another word that means the same as “epidemic”? Find 19 synonyms and 30 related words for “epidemic” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Epidemic” are: outbreak, plague, scourge, infestation, spate, rash, wave, explosion, eruption, outburst, flare-up, craze, rife, rampant, widespread, wide-ranging, extensive, sweeping, penetrating

Epidemic as a Noun

Definitions of "Epidemic" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “epidemic” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• A sudden, widespread occurrence of an undesirable phenomenon.
• A widespread outbreak of an infectious disease; many people are infected at the same time.
• A widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time.

Synonyms of "Epidemic" as a noun (12 Words)

craze	State of violent mental agitation. The new craze for step aerobics.
eruption	The emergence of a tooth as it breaks through the gum. The eruption of Vesuvius.
explosion	The noise caused by an explosion. Three explosions damaged buildings at the barracks.
flare-up	A sudden intense happening.
infestation	The state of being invaded or overrun by parasites. Efforts were made to deal with an infestation of rats in the building.
outbreak	A sudden occurrence of something unwelcome, such as war or disease. The outbreak of hostilities.
outburst	A sudden occurrence of a particular activity. A very dramatic outburst of neutrons.
plague	A contagious bacterial disease characterized by fever and delirium typically with the formation of buboes bubonic plague and sometimes infection of the lungs pneumonic plague. Those children are a damn plague.
rash	A series of unexpected and unpleasant occurrences. A rash of bank robberies.
scourge	A person who inspires fear or dread. The scourge of mass unemployment.
spate	A large number or amount or extent. A spate of attacks on holidaymakers.
wave	A shape regarded as resembling a breaking wave. Troops advancing in waves.

Usage Examples of "Epidemic" as a noun

• A flu epidemic.
• An epidemic of violent crime.

Epidemic as an Adjective

Definitions of "Epidemic" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “epidemic” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• Of the nature of an epidemic.
• Of disease or anything resembling a disease; attacking or affecting many individuals in a community or a population simultaneously.
• (especially of medicine) of disease or anything resembling a disease; attacking or affecting many individuals in a community or a population simultaneously.

Synonyms of "Epidemic" as an adjective (7 Words)

extensive	Of agriculture; increasing productivity by using large areas with minimal outlay and labor. An extensive collection of silver.
penetrating	Having or showing clear insight. The problem of penetrating damp.
rampant	Having a lush and unchecked growth. Rampant inflation.
rife	Full of. The streets were rife with rumour and fear.
sweeping	Wide in range or effect. A wide sweeping view of the river.
wide-ranging	Including much.
widespread	Distributed over a considerable extent. Drug use is widespread.

Usage Examples of "Epidemic" as an adjective

• An epidemic outbreak of influenza.
• Epidemic diseases.
• Shoplifting has reached epidemic proportions.

Associations of "Epidemic" (30 Words)

blight	A state or condition being blighted. Her remorse could be a blight on that happiness.
canker	Become infected with a canker. Secondary infections of canker and coccidiosis.
catching	The act of detecting something catching sight of something. Catching cold is sometimes unavoidable.
cholera	An acute intestinal infection caused by ingestion of contaminated water or food.
communicable	Able to be communicated to others. The value of the product must be communicable to the potential consumers.
contagious	(of an emotion, feeling, or attitude) likely to spread to and affect others. Precautions are taken with anyone who seems contagious.
diphtheria	Acute contagious infection caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae marked by the formation of a false membrane in the throat and other air passages causing difficulty in breathing.
disease	A particular quality or disposition regarded as adversely affecting a person or group of people. Bacterial meningitis is quite a rare disease.
epizootic	An outbreak of an epizootic disease. A global epizootic of H5N1 bird flu.
hookworm	Infestation of the intestines by hookworms which enter the body usually through the skin.
infect	Communicate a disease to. The panic in his voice infected her.
infection	Illegality that taints or contaminates a ship or cargo rendering it liable to seizure. Ambitious men are led astray by an infection that is almost unavoidable.
infectious	Liable to spread infection. A loud infectious laugh.
influenza	A highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory passages causing fever, severe aching, and catarrh, and often occurring in epidemics.
malaria	An infective disease caused by sporozoan parasites that are transmitted through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito; marked by paroxysms of chills and fever.
measles	An acute and highly contagious viral disease marked by distinct red spots followed by a rash; occurs primarily in children. A severe case of the measles.
outbreak	A sudden occurrence of something unwelcome, such as war or disease. The outbreak of hostilities.
pandemic	An outbreak of a pandemic disease. Pandemic diseases have occurred throughout history.
pestilence	A pernicious and malign influence that is hard to get rid of. Racism is a pestilence at the heart of the nation.
pestilential	(of a plant or animal) very widespread and troublesome. The tsetse flies that are so pestilential in tropical Africa.
plague	A contagious bacterial disease characterized by fever and delirium typically with the formation of buboes bubonic plague and sometimes infection of the lungs pneumonic plague. Diseases like smallpox wiped out the indigenous people in a succession of plagues.
pox	Smallpox.
sars	A respiratory disease of unknown etiology that apparently originated in mainland China in 2003; characterized by fever and coughing or difficulty breathing or hypoxia; can be fatal.
smallpox	A highly contagious viral disease characterized by fever and weakness and skin eruption with pustules that form scabs that slough off leaving scars.
transmissible	Capable of being transmitted by infection. The virus mutated into a form that was transmissible between humans.
transmission	The action or process of transmitting something, or the state of being transmitted. The transmission of knowledge.
typhoid	An infectious bacterial fever with an eruption of red spots on the chest and abdomen and severe intestinal irritation.
typhus	Rickettsial disease transmitted by body lice and characterized by skin rash and high fever.
vaccine	A program designed to detect computer viruses and inactivate them. There is no vaccine against the virus.
virus	An infection or disease caused by a virus. Bigotry is a virus that must not be allowed to spread.