Illustration of rampant
- a lion rampant
rampant
adjective
ram·pant ˈram-pənt 
also -ˌpant
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
- abandoned
- intemperate
- raw
- runaway
- unbounded
- unbridled
- unchecked
- uncontrolled
- unhampered
- unhindered
- unrestrained
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Behavior unhinged from norms of any sort is rampant now. 
Daniel Henninger, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022 Salaries have not caught up, and unemployment is rampant. Sarah Dadouch, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2022 For example, before the Holocaust, anti-Semitism was rampant in England. Dan Nosowitz, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Sep. 2022 Staffing shortages are rampant, reducing the number of children that can enroll, and demand is soaring as parents return to their offices and prepandemic routines in greater numbers. Katie Johnston, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Sep. 2022 Now more police are on patrol, but distrust is rampant. Paul J. Weber, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 The challenge started in Milwaukee and is rampant there, but that city is only part of what has become a nationwide problem. Jack Fitzgerald, Car and Driver, 27 Aug. 2022 Speaking of language: An article about golf, published last Thursday, contained a couple of errors that are rampant in America. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 22 Aug. 2022 The planet continues to experience a massive loss in forest land as the world warms and allows severe wildfires to run rampant in regions spanning the globe. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2022 See More
Daniel Henninger, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022 Salaries have not caught up, and unemployment is rampant. Sarah Dadouch, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2022 For example, before the Holocaust, anti-Semitism was rampant in England. Dan Nosowitz, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Sep. 2022 Staffing shortages are rampant, reducing the number of children that can enroll, and demand is soaring as parents return to their offices and prepandemic routines in greater numbers. Katie Johnston, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Sep. 2022 Now more police are on patrol, but distrust is rampant. Paul J. Weber, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 The challenge started in Milwaukee and is rampant there, but that city is only part of what has become a nationwide problem. Jack Fitzgerald, Car and Driver, 27 Aug. 2022 Speaking of language: An article about golf, published last Thursday, contained a couple of errors that are rampant in America. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 22 Aug. 2022 The planet continues to experience a massive loss in forest land as the world warms and allows severe wildfires to run rampant in regions spanning the globe. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English rampaunt, rampand, borrowed from Anglo-French rampant "crawling, rampant (in heraldry)," from present participle of ramper "to climb, rear up on the hind legs, creep" — more at ramp entry 1
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing rampant
Kids Definition
rampant
adjective
ram·pant ˈram-pənt
: existing or growing greatly and quickly
Fear was rampant in the town.
rampant
adjective
1
as in runaway
showing no signs of being under control the mayor promised to put a stop to the rampant crime that plagued the city Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- runaway
- uncontrolled
- unbridled
- unchecked
- abandoned
- raw
- unhindered
- unrestrained
- uncontrollable
- unbounded
- wild
- unhampered
- intemperate
- uninhibited
- riotous
- ungovernable
- barbaric
- hog wild
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- hampered
- controlled
- hindered
- checked
- restrained
- constrained
- curbed
- governed
- temperate
- moderate
- bridled
- tempered
2
as in lush
growing thickly and vigorously try to avoid the patch of rampant poison ivy near the resting spot on the trail Synonyms & Similar Words
- lush
- weedy
- dense
- overrun
- thick
- overgrown
- prosperous
- profuse
- rank
- luxuriant
- tangled
- lavish
- verdant
- close
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sparse
- dormant
- stunted
- blighted
- sulphur-bottom
- sulphur-bottom whale
- sulphur-crested cockatoo
- sulphurated
- sulphurates
- sulphurating
- sulphurations
- sulphurators
- sulphured
- sulphureous
- sulphuretted
- sulphuretteing
- sulphurettes
- sulphuretting
- sulphuric
- sulphuring
- sulphurisation
- sulphurisations
- sulphurise
- sulphurised
- sulphurises
- sulphurising
- sulphurization
- sulphurizations
- sulphurize