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epidemic

Definition

  • noun: an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people
  • noun: an outbreak of disease that spreads quickly and affects many individuals at the same time
  • adjective: affecting or tending to affect a disproportionately large number of individuals within a population, community, or region at the same time
  • synonyms: epizootic, pestilent, plaguey

Examples

  • The violence has now reached 'epidemic' proportions.

  • an 'epidemic' of bankruptcies

  • an 'epidemic' disease

Movie clips

Movie quotes

  • (..) The victims often remain too terrified to talk the police powerless to perform properly and all the welfare groups can do is monitor this epidemic of crime without punishment Tom Grunick, Annandale, Virginia Malcolm West on trial for the murders (..)
    1987 Broadcast News