epidemic
22
4.7
- adjective
- /ˌɛpɪˈdɛmɪk/
- Health officials are concerned about the epidemic spread of misinformation during the health crisis.
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Watch on YouTubeThe risk of a new epidemic strain of influenza goes way down.
- The risk of a new epidemic strain of influenza goes way down.
- And that's in a sense exemplified by the idea of of the art fair, which has become epidemic happening everywhere all the time.
Examples
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OK, so obesity is now reaching epidemic levels in the United States.
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Experts warn that mental health issues in teenagers have become an epidemic in many urban areas.
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Loneliness is absolutely an epidemic in our society, but it's been growing for decades.
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We're in an opioid epidemic in America right now.
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I think there's an epidemic of adults not having friends.
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There is definitely an epidemic of overprotective parenting, but it's useful to ask why.
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And there's, there's a an epidemic of absenteeism in school right now.
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The recent flu outbreak reached epidemic proportions, affecting thousands across the country.
Synonyms
232
3.6
Happening in many places or among many people
Antonyms
Compounds
- Specialized
1
6.0
A sudden outbreak of a severe stomach infection that affects many people through dirty water or food
- Specialized
1
6.7
A serious infection of the brain lining that spreads quickly and can kill if not treated
- Specialized
1
8.8
A large group of people suddenly become very afraid and act without thinking, spreading quickly
- Archaic
1
8.6
An infection of the brain that makes people unable to move their eyes and feel very weak during 1915–1926 outbreaks
- Literature
1
6.0
A very common situation where many people feel alone and lack close friends
- Specialized
A viral disease called mumps that causes fever and swelling of the glands by the ears and spreads easily
- Specialized
A sudden infection that causes sharp chest pain during outbreaks
- Specialized
A contagious viral illness that causes a short fever and rash and can harm an unborn baby early in pregnancy
How Widespread
- Specialized
5
4.1
22
4.7
Surface Forms
Morphology
epidemic = epi + dem + ic
Built from Greek combining forms (epi- + dem- + -ic); the parts are etymologically meaningful but not standalone English words, so the relation is only partially obvious to average learners.
Etymology
As an adjective, epidemic keeps the same picture: from epi- 'upon' and demos 'people', it means something that affects many people at once. That's why we can talk about an epidemic of rumors or unemployment when these things spread quickly through a community.