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
Read Next National Prison guard beatings of women are ‘rampant,’ experts say.
—
Julia Marnin, Sacramento Bee, 5 Feb. 2025
These estimates have evolved from the days when overpopulation fears were rampant.
—Dylan Scott, Vox, 5 Feb. 2025
Racial tensions were acute, and heroin addiction was rampant.
—Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
The Atlanta City Council has been busy trying to take away IG Shannon Manigault’s investigative powers despite rampant crime and corruption among the city’s top brass.
—David Williams, Baltimore Sun, 29 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for rampant 
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Julia Marnin, Sacramento Bee, 5 Feb. 2025
These estimates have evolved from the days when overpopulation fears were rampant.
—Dylan Scott, Vox, 5 Feb. 2025
Racial tensions were acute, and heroin addiction was rampant.
—Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
The Atlanta City Council has been busy trying to take away IG Shannon Manigault’s investigative powers despite rampant crime and corruption among the city’s top brass.
—David Williams, Baltimore Sun, 29 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for rampant
Dictionary Entries Near rampant
Cite this Entry
“Rampant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rampant. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
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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