epidemically

6.7

In a way that spreads quickly and widely like a disease

adverb
/ˌɛpɪˈdɛmɪkli/

: epidémicamente

Dengue fever can spread epidemically in regions where mosquito populations are high during the rainy season.

Examples

After the new virus was discovered, it began to spread epidemically in several countries within a short period.
Since 1999, chikungunya has re-emerged epidemically across tropical and subtropical areas around the globe and most recently ripped through the Americas, causing an estimated 1,675,000 cases.

Academic text (2016)
The flu spread epidemically during the winter months, infecting thousands in just a few weeks.

Synonyms

pervasively

vsepidemically

2 6.6

In a way that spreads widely through a place or among many people

focuses on very rapid population spread rather than slow general presence

virally

vsepidemically

Texting

1 4.1

In a way that spreads quickly online to many people

describes rapid wide spread across populations not limited to online channels

rampantly

vsepidemically

1 7.0

Spreading quickly and without control

describes fast wide spread across populations rather than only disorderly action

infectiously

vsepidemically

1 4.2

In a way that quickly makes other people feel the same

covers rapid wide population spread and not only person-to-person emotional spread

contagiously

vsepidemically

1 4.8

In a way that spreads quickly to other people, like a laugh or a smile

spreads rapidly and widely across populations rather than only between individuals

prevalently

vsepidemically

3.6

In a way that happens often in many places or among many people

means rapid wide spreading rather than just being common or established

Antonyms

slowly

∞ 1.0

At a low speed without hurrying

locally

127 1.4

In a particular area or community rather than in the whole country

How Widespread

globally

77 3.5

epidemically

6.7

regionally

9 4.0

locally

127 1.4

Surface Forms

epidemically positive

Morphology

epidemically = epidemic (transparent) = epidemic + ally

Formed by the regular adverbial suffix '-ally' added to the adjective 'epidemic'; the meaning 'in an epidemic way' is directly inferable.

Etymology

The word epidemically comes from Greek parts epi- 'on' and demos 'people', the same root you see in democracy. So, when something happens epidemically, it spreads 'on the people' — that is, very quickly and to many people.