Pertussis

/pəˈtʌsɪs/

Synonyms for "pertussis" (46 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (10)

Strong matches (13)

Related words (23)

pneumoniapoliorabiesrheumatic feverringwormrubellascarlet fevershinglessleeping sicknesssmallpoxspotted feverstrep throattetanusthrushtrench mouthtuberculosistyphoid fevertyphusvenereal diseaseyaws
Show 1 more word
yellow fever
Noun(2 words)
whoopingwhooping cough

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: ague, anthrax, black death, cholera, diphtheria.
  • Sentence evidence is available for pertussis, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, wordnet.

Synonym selection checklist

  • Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
  • Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
  • Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "pertussis".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "pertussis"

Keep "pertussis" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.

If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.

Replacement workflow

1. Preserve meaning

Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "pertussis" intact in the sentence you are editing.

2. Tune tone

Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.

3. Re-read context

Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.

Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.

Final fit check

After choosing a replacement for "pertussis", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.

If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "pertussis" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

1 relation types

More general

4 entries
infectious diseaserespiratory diseaserespiratory disorderrespiratory illness

Sample sentences

4 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

On vaccines, the letter says 86 percent of the world's kids now have coverage for a basic package of vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, the highest percentage ever.

Source: tatoeba (12300117)

With the introduction of an improved and standardized pertussis vaccine in the 1940s, there followed a remarkable decline in pertussis in the United States, most of the Western world, and Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.

Source: wiktionary

Bordetella pertussis is a Gram-negative bacterial pathogen that infects the human respiratory tract, causing the disease pertussis or whooping cough.

Source: wiktionary

2015, Dr. Stephen Berger, Pertussis: Global Status, GIDEON Informatics, Inc., E-book, page 343, During 1993 to 2004, the hospitalization rate [in the US] for pertussis among infants ages <= 2 months was 239 per 100,000 live births.

Source: wiktionary

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "pertussis"?

Closest matches include ague, anthrax, black death, cholera, diphtheria.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "pertussis"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "pertussis"