contagiousness
Ability to spread
Contagiousness is the quality of being easily transmitted from one person or thing to another.
The word applies literally to diseases that spread through contact or proximity, but extends to anything that spreads readily: the contagiousness of her laughter, the contagiousness of fear in a crowd.
A disease's contagiousness determines how quickly it can move through a population; enthusiasm's contagiousness determines how quickly it spreads through a team.
To distribute widely
- propagationAct of spreading widely
- diffusionPassive molecular spreading
- dispersionScattering across space
- disseminationWide distribution of information
circulation · transmission · proliferation · transfer · passing · catching · contractible · communicability
Able to spread between individuals
- epidemicWidespread disease occurrence
- pandemicGlobal disease outbreak
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
- plagueDeadly epidemic disease
infection · pathogen · quarantine · immunity · vaccination · incubation · super-spreader · vector
Spreading quickly online
- memeShared online humor
- trendingCurrently gaining widespread attention
- influencePower to affect others
- word-of-mouthInformation shared through conversation
buzz · hype · momentum · cascade · bandwagon · copycat · mimicry · peer pressure
Vocal expression of amusement
- yawningOpening mouth when tired
- enthusiasmIntense eager enjoyment
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
- fearEmotional response to threat
hysteria · mood · energy · excitement · optimism · negativity · crying · smiling
spread
To distribute widely
- propagationAct of spreading widely
- diffusionPassive molecular spreading
- dispersionScattering across space
dissemination · circulation · transmission · proliferation · transfer · passing · catching · contractible · communicability · airborne
transmissible
Able to spread between individuals
- epidemicWidespread disease occurrence
- pandemicGlobal disease outbreak
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
plague · infection · pathogen · quarantine · immunity · vaccination · incubation · super-spreader · vector · host
viral
Spreading quickly online
- memeShared online humor
- trendingCurrently gaining widespread attention
- influencePower to affect others
word-of-mouth · buzz · hype · momentum · cascade · bandwagon · copycat · mimicry · peer pressure · groupthink
laughter
Vocal expression of amusement
- yawningOpening mouth when tired
- enthusiasmIntense eager enjoyment
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
fear · hysteria · mood · energy · excitement · optimism · negativity · crying · smiling · empathy
contagiousnessimmunity
Protected from harm
resistance · imperviousness · invulnerability · insusceptibility · protection
contagious, infectious, contagion, communicable, infectiousness, contagiously, noncontagious