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
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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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Recent Examples of contagious
He’s got unlimited amounts of energy and that’s contagious.
—
Amanda Pirkowski, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2025
In particular, Cassidy was worried about a potential measles outbreak if Kennedy were to assume control of America's health agencies and continue to raise doubt about the vaccine, which had been used for decades to prevent the highly contagious and potentially deadly childhood disease.
—Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 4 Feb. 2025
Although corralled by an effective vaccine in the 1990s, the highly contagious virus still percolates at low levels through the country.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2025
Lyme disease is not contagious or spread from one person to another through touch or saliva.1
The bacteria that cause Lyme disease can live in the blood.
—Jennifer Welsh Published, Verywell Health, 3 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for contagious 
Amanda Pirkowski, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2025
In particular, Cassidy was worried about a potential measles outbreak if Kennedy were to assume control of America's health agencies and continue to raise doubt about the vaccine, which had been used for decades to prevent the highly contagious and potentially deadly childhood disease.
—Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 4 Feb. 2025
Although corralled by an effective vaccine in the 1990s, the highly contagious virus still percolates at low levels through the country.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2025
Lyme disease is not contagious or spread from one person to another through touch or saliva.1
The bacteria that cause Lyme disease can live in the blood.
—Jennifer Welsh Published, Verywell Health, 3 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for contagious
Thesaurus Entries Near contagious
Cite this Entry
“Contagious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contagious. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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