Illustration of rampant
- a lion rampant
1
a
: rearing upon the hind legs with forelegs extended
b
: standing on one hind foot with one foreleg raised above the other and the head in profile
—used of a heraldic animal
2
a
: marked by a menacing wildness, extravagance, or absence of restraint
rampant rumors
b
: profusely widespread
rampant weeds
rampantly
adverb
Synonyms
Examples of rampant in a Sentence
a weed that's rampant in this area
the mayor promised to put a stop to the rampant crime that plagued the city
Recent Examples on the Web
Yet Rizzo told me that dumping is rampant in working-class, outer-borough neighborhoods, where residents have long felt overlooked by the Department of Sanitation, and that many people have welcomed the surveillance cameras in the hope of getting relief from all the junk.
—
Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, Ethiopia’s economy has been ravaged by rampant inflation, foreign exchange shortages, and widespread food insecurity.
—Alex De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024
The heist has triggered rampant speculation among a public long infatuated with daring burglaries and hefty criminal paydays.
—Sean Murphy, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
There are few industries where trust is so paramount, and yet distrust is so rampant between stakeholders.
—Seth Joseph, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
The move underscores how rampant greenwashing is within fashion and sets a precedent for other brands to follow.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 27 Mar. 2024
In many areas of the country, ramps were once rampant, but not anymore because of overharvesting.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2024
Angola's growing development needs have caused rampant deforestation for valuable timber and agriculture.
—Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2024
There are many reasons that this has been (and should be) the case, not least of which is the rampant chaos of fifty states crafting their own rules and, as a result, interfering with U.S. foreign policy.
—Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2024
Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, Ethiopia’s economy has been ravaged by rampant inflation, foreign exchange shortages, and widespread food insecurity.
—Alex De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024
The heist has triggered rampant speculation among a public long infatuated with daring burglaries and hefty criminal paydays.
—Sean Murphy, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
There are few industries where trust is so paramount, and yet distrust is so rampant between stakeholders.
—Seth Joseph, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
The move underscores how rampant greenwashing is within fashion and sets a precedent for other brands to follow.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 27 Mar. 2024
In many areas of the country, ramps were once rampant, but not anymore because of overharvesting.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2024
Angola's growing development needs have caused rampant deforestation for valuable timber and agriculture.
—Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2024
There are many reasons that this has been (and should be) the case, not least of which is the rampant chaos of fifty states crafting their own rules and, as a result, interfering with U.S. foreign policy.
—Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rampant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near rampant
Cite this Entry
“Rampant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rampant. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rampant
adjective
ram·pant
ˈram-pənt 
also -ˌpant
1
: standing on the hind legs like a horse rearing
2
: not checked in growth or spread
rumor ran rampant
rampantly
adverb
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