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metastasize
verb
me·tas·ta·size
mə-ˈta-stə-ˌsīz
metastasized; metastasizing
: to spread or grow by or as if by metastasis
died of lung cancer which had metastasized throughout his body—G. P. Elliott
Examples of metastasize in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
If the tropical disturbance does metastasize into a storm — the National Weather Service estimates that happening later Wednesday — heavy rainfall is certain to inundate parts of South Texas.
—David Montesino, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 June 2024
Like Rowling, Seinfeld’s doubling down on his anti-woke opinions has metastasized into other revanchist takes, like the desire to return to an outmoded, Mad Men-era masculinity.
—Aja Romano, Vox, 14 June 2024
Meantime, Al Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates are metastasizing throughout the region, according to U.N. and U.S. intelligence assessments.
—Ruth MacLean, New York Times, 7 June 2024
The housing crisis has metastasized in recent years and grown more acute since the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for metastasize
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'metastasize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1907, in the meaning defined above
Articles Related to metastasize
Dictionary Entries Near metastasize
Cite this Entry
“Metastasize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metastasize. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Kids Definition
metastasize
verb
me·tas·ta·size
mə-ˈtas-tə-ˌsīz
: to spread or grow by or as if by metastasis
Medical Definition
metastasize
intransitive verb
me·tas·ta·size
variants
also British metastasise
metastasized also British metastasised; metastasizing also British metastasising
: to spread by metastasis
… all ten were primary brain cancers; that is, they had originated in the brain, and not metastasized there from elsewhere in the body.—Paul Brodeur, The New Yorker
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