If you describe something bad, such as a crime or disease, as rampant, you mean that it is very common and is increasing in an uncontrolled way.
Inflation is rampant and industry in decline.
...the rampant corruption of the administration.
Synonyms: widespread, rank, epidemic, prevalent More Synonyms of rampant
More Synonyms of rampant
rampant in British English
(ˈræmpənt)
adjective
1.
unrestrained or violent in behaviour, desire, opinions, etc
2.
growing or developing unchecked
3. (postpositive) heraldry
(of a beast) standing on the hind legs, the right foreleg raised above the left
4.
(of an arch) having one abutment higher than the other
Derived forms
rampancy (ˈrampancy)
noun
rampantly (ˈrampantly)
adverb
Word origin
C14: from Old French ramper to crawl, rear; see ramp
rampant in American English
(ˈræmpənt)
adjective
1.
growing luxuriantly; flourishing
rampant plants
2.
spreading unchecked; widespread; rife
3.
violent and uncontrollable in action, manner, speech, etc.
4. Architecture
having one abutment higher than the other
said of an arch
5.
a.
rearing up on the hind legs
b. Heraldry
depicted thus in profile, with one forepaw raised above the other
a lion rampant
Derived forms
rampancy (ˈrampancy)
noun
rampantly (ˈrampantly)
adverb
Word origin
ME < OFr, prp. of ramper: see ramp2
Examples of 'rampant' in a sentence
rampant
We have to be alert to the warning signs that our egos are running rampant.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Heart disease was rampant in my family.
Kowalski, Robert E The 8-Week Cholesterol Cure (1990)
You could argue rampant capitalism is turning it into a cloned city.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There was no point in increasing the debt burden if expenditure continued to run rampant.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In many member countries the police run rampant.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But the heavy deceit and the gross unfairness is running rampant.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
And what is this rampant disease?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It might stop if the economy recovers, or if we have rampant inflation.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You're expected to run rampant and be crazy.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
A rapid building programme amid rampant corruption is producing economic waste and unreliable manufacturing.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Dead trees and shrubs need removing too: buyers worry about rampant disease and what they will do about it.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It could be rampant inflation.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Clearly friend inflation is rampant.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They lived in cramped rooms above the tiny clinics in the slums, often afraid to go out after dark because of the rampant crime.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The result is runaway inflation, rampant corruption, consumer shortages and a collapse in real wages.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Results at two of the schools consistently trailed national averages, while improved numbers at two others reflected changes in student intake and rampant grade inflation.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Instead, the easy flow of credit produced rampant house-price inflation.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In the bishops they saw pomposity and rampant corruption, disdain for biblical teaching, and addiction to ceremony.
Christianity Today (2000)
Many in southern Europe refuse to pay taxes, and rampant corruption in government and the public sector is the norm.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Amid evidence of rampant corruption, soaring unemployment and deep welfare cuts, watch out as other embattled leaders seek to divert attention from trouble at home.
The Sun (2013)
Word lists with
rampant
terms used in architecture, heraldry
In other languages
rampant
British English: rampant ADJECTIVE
If you describe something bad, such as a crime or disease, as rampant, you mean that it is very common and is increasing in an uncontrolled way.
Inflation is rampant and industry in decline.
American English: rampant
Brazilian Portuguese: violento
Chinese: 猖獗的
European Spanish: galopante
French: rampant
German: wuchernd
Italian: dilagante
Japanese: 手に負えない
Korean: 만연한
European Portuguese: violento
Latin American Spanish: galopante
1 (adjective)
Definition
growing or spreading uncontrollably
the rampant corruption of the administration
Synonyms
widespread
There is widespread support for the proposals.
Food shortages are widespread.
rank
brambles and rank grass
epidemic
The crisis was reaching epidemic proportions.
prevalent
Smoking is becoming increasingly prevalent among younger women.
rife
Speculation is rife that he'll be sacked.
exuberant
hillsides ablaze with exuberant flowers and shrubs
uncontrolled
His uncontrolled behaviour disturbed the whole class.
unchecked
Brutality and lawlessness are allowed to go unchecked.
unrestrained
luxuriant
profuse
spreading like wildfire
2 (adjective)
Definition
growing or spreading uncontrollably
Crime is rampant in the area.
Synonyms
unrestrained
wild
The angry crowd became quite wild and agitated.
violent
his violent, almost pathological jealousy
raging
raging seas
aggressive
dominant
excessive
The length of the prison sentence was excessive considering the nature of the crime.
outrageous
I must apologize for my friend's outrageous behaviour.
out of control
rampaging
out of hand
uncontrollable
The situation could become uncontrollable.
flagrant
unbridled
a tale of lust and unbridled passion
vehement
wanton
riotous
They wasted their lives in riotous living.
on the rampage
a bull that went on the rampage
ungovernable
He was filled with an ungovernable rage.
3 (adjective)
Definition
growing or spreading uncontrollably
lush, rampant vegetation writhing out of the grey granite
Synonyms
lush
rich
The bees buzzed around a garden rich with flowers.
luxuriant
wide spreading branches and luxuriant foliage
profuse
This plant produces profuse bright-blue flowers.
4 (adjective)
Definition
(of a beast) standing on the hind legs, the right foreleg raised above the left
a shield with a lion rampant
Synonyms
upright
He moved into an upright position.
standing
standing stones
rearing
erect
Her head was erect and her back was straight.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of epidemic
Definition
(esp. of a disease) affecting many people in an area
The crisis was reaching epidemic proportions.
Synonyms
widespread,
wide-ranging,
general,
sweeping,
prevailing,
rampant,
prevalent,
rife,
pandemic
in the sense of erect
Definition
upright in posture or position
Her head was erect and her back was straight.
Synonyms
upright,
raised,
straight,
standing,
stiff,
firm,
rigid,
vertical,
elevated,
perpendicular,
pricked-up
in the sense of excessive
The length of the prison sentence was excessive considering the nature of the crime.
Synonyms
immoderate,
too much,
enormous,
extreme,
exaggerated,
over the top (slang),
extravagant,
needless,
unreasonable,
disproportionate,
undue,
uncontrolled,
superfluous,
prodigal,
unrestrained,
profligate,
inordinate,
fulsome,
intemperate,
unconscionable,
overmuch,
O.T.T. (slang)
Synonyms of 'rampant'
rampant
Explore 'rampant' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of exuberant
Definition
(of vegetation) growing thickly
hillsides ablaze with exuberant flowers and shrubs
Synonyms
luxuriant,
rich,
lavish,
abundant,
lush,
overflowing,
plentiful,
teeming,
copious,
profuse,
superabundant,
plenteous
in the sense of luxuriant
Definition
rich and abundant
wide spreading branches and luxuriant foliage
Synonyms
lush,
rich,
dense,
abundant,
excessive,
thriving,
flourishing,
rank,
productive,
lavish,
ample,
fertile,
prolific,
overflowing,
plentiful,
exuberant,
fruitful,
teeming,
copious,
prodigal,
riotous,
profuse,
fecund,
superabundant,
plenteous
in the sense of on the rampage
Definition
behaving violently or destructively
a bull that went on the rampage
Synonyms
berserk,
wild,
violent,
raging,
destructive,
out of control,
rampant,
amok,
riotous,
berko (Australian, slang)
in the sense of outrageous
Definition
unusual and shocking
I must apologize for my friend's outrageous behaviour.
Synonyms
atrocious,
shocking,
terrible,
violent,
offensive,
appalling,
cruel,
savage,
horrible,
beastly,
horrifying,
vicious,
ruthless,
infamous,
disgraceful,
scandalous,
wicked,
barbaric,
unspeakable,
inhuman,
diabolical,
heinous,
flagrant,
egregious,
abominable,
infernal,
fiendish,
villainous,
nefarious,
iniquitous,
execrable,
godawful (slang),
hellacious (US, slang)
in the sense of prevalent
Definition
widespread or common
Smoking is becoming increasingly prevalent among younger women.
Synonyms
common,
accepted,
established,
popular,
general,
current,
usual,
widespread,
extensive,
universal,
frequent,
everyday,
rampant,
customary,
commonplace,
ubiquitous,
rife,
habitual
in the sense of profuse
Definition
plentiful or abundant
This plant produces profuse bright-blue flowers.
Synonyms
plentiful,
ample,
prolific,
abundant,
overflowing,
teeming,
copious,
bountiful,
luxuriant
in the sense of raging
raging seas
Synonyms
stormy,
strong,
wild,
violent,
turbulent,
tempestuous
in the sense of rank
Definition
smelling offensively strong
brambles and rank grass
Synonyms
abundant,
flourishing,
lush,
luxuriant,
productive,
vigorous,
dense,
exuberant,
profuse,
strong-growing
in the sense of rich
Definition
luxuriant or prolific
The bees buzzed around a garden rich with flowers.
Synonyms
abounding,
full,
packed,
crammed,
luxurious,
lush,
abundant,
exuberant,
replete,
well-endowed
in the sense of rife
Definition
widespread or common
Speculation is rife that he'll be sacked.
Synonyms
widespread,
abundant,
plentiful,
rampant,
general,
common,
current,
raging,
universal,
frequent,
prevailing,
epidemic,
prevalent,
ubiquitous
Additional synonyms
in the sense of riotous
Definition
unrestrained and excessive
They wasted their lives in riotous living.
Synonyms
reckless,
wild,
outrageous,
lavish,
rash,
luxurious,
extravagant,
wanton,
unrestrained,
intemperate,
heedless,
immoderate
in the sense of standing
standing stones
Synonyms
upright,
erect,
vertical,
rampant,
perpendicular,
upended
in the sense of unbridled
Definition
(of feelings or behaviour) not restrained or controlled in any way
a tale of lust and unbridled passion
Synonyms
unrestrained,
uncontrolled,
unchecked,
violent,
excessive,
rampant,
unruly,
full-on (informal),
wanton,
riotous,
intemperate,
ungovernable,
unconstrained,
licentious,
ungoverned,
uncurbed
in the sense of unchecked
Definition
not prevented from continuing or growing
Brutality and lawlessness are allowed to go unchecked.
Synonyms
uncontrolled,
out of control,
rampant,
out of hand,
full-on (informal),
unbridled,
riotous,
unrestrained,
running wild,
undisciplined,
untrammelled,
ungoverned,
uncurbed
in the sense of uncontrollable
Definition
unable to be restrained or prevented
The situation could become uncontrollable.
Synonyms
violent,
wild,
unruly,
unmanageable,
ungovernable
in the sense of uncontrolled
His uncontrolled behaviour disturbed the whole class.
Synonyms
unrestrained,
violent,
wild,
undisciplined,
furious,
out of control,
rampant,
out of hand,
unruly,
boisterous,
unchecked,
full-on (informal),
unbridled,
riotous,
running wild,
untrammelled,
ungoverned,
lacking self-control,
uncurbed,
unsubmissive
in the sense of ungovernable
Definition
(of an emotion) not able to be controlled or restrained