rampant

Meanings

1. 1adjectivenot comparable

   Spreading widely and quickly in a way that is hard to control, usually for something bad.

   Grammar: Do not say more rampant in standard use; say was rampant or became rampant.

   Patterns

   • rampant crime
   • rampant inflation
   • rampant corruption

   Rampant weeds covered the empty lot.

   The article warned about rampant misinformation online.

2. 2adjectivenot comparablespecialist

   Standing on the hind legs with forelegs raised, in heraldic descriptions of an animal.

   Grammar: Used only after the noun or in coats of arms: a lion rampant.

   Patterns

   • lion rampant
   • bear rampant

   The shield shows a golden lion rampant on red.

   A wolf rampant appears above the doorway.

Common combinations

rampant corruption

Investigators exposed rampant corruption in the contract system.

rampant inflation

Rampant inflation raised food prices every week.

rampant rumors

Rampant rumors spread before the official announcement.

run rampant

Mosquitoes run rampant after heavy rain.

Synonyms and how they differ

widespread

Widespread only says common over a large area; rampant adds uncontrolled growth.

unchecked

Unchecked stresses lack of control, while rampant stresses rapid spread and bad effects.

rife

Rife means common and undesirable, but less forceful than rampant and often predicative: disease was rife.

Opposites

Word family

rampage verb

to rush around violently or wildly

rampancy noun

rare noun for the state of being rampant

Commonly confused: rampant or rampant vs rampant?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “rampant”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words