infectiously
1
4.2
- adverb
- /ɪnˈfɛkʃəsli/
:
contagiosamente
- The children's excitement for the holiday was infectiously apparent, spreading cheer to all the adults.
- infectiously enthusiastic
- laughing infectiously
Examples
-
Their unfiltered passion and excitement were well displayed for those around to not only see, but also infectiously enjoy.
Blog text (22) -
There is something youthful and infectiously giddy about the way he puts things, and he shows clear enthusiasm for what he does.
Blog text (6) -
"His thick red hair was bright in the glow from the fire, and his blue eyes were infectiously merry.
Fiction book (1991) -
Julie was in an infectiously good mood about leaving Anchorage.
Fiction book (1996) -
He grinned so wide and infectiously that she wished she could return it.
Fiction book (1992) -
Harold McAnaney, an innovative music and art teacher at the Timothy Murphy School, is infectiously optimistic about learning through the arts.
Academic text (1991) -
Even its soundtrack, or what little I heard of it, is infectiously charming with its gospel choir-backed vocals.
Blog text (17) -
As anyone who was there can attest, tomorrow's physicists are an inquisitive and infectiously enthusiastic bunch.
Academic text (2012) -
He was physically imposing, spoke in a loud voice, and laughed full-throatedly, infectiously, joyfully.
Academic text (1999) -
Her laugh was so infectiously joyous that soon everyone in the room was smiling.
Synonyms
1
4.1
In a way that spreads quickly online to many people
1
4.8
In a way that spreads quickly to other people, like a laugh or a smile
In a way that spreads quickly and widely like a disease
How Contagious
Surface Forms
Morphology
infectiously = infectious (transparent) = infect + ious + ly
Formed by the regular adverbial suffix '-ly' from the adjective 'infectious'; the meaning 'in a way that spreads' follows standard English word-formation.
Etymology
Infectiously comes from the verb infect, which originally meant to 'taint' or 'make contagious'. Imagine a laugh or a smile as a tiny invisible thing that jumps from person to person, and that's why when someone is infectiously cheerful their mood spreads quickly to others.