rampant

[ram-puhnt]

adjective

1. violent in action or spirit; raging; furious.

   a rampant leopard.

2. growing luxuriantly, as weeds.

3. in full sway; prevailing or unchecked.

   a rampant rumor.

   Synonyms: unrestrained, widespread, rife

4. (of an animal) standing on the hind legs; ramping. ramp.

5. Heraldry.,  (of a beast used as a charge) represented in profile facing the dexter side, with the body upraised and resting on the left hind leg, the tail and other legs elevated, the right foreleg highest, and the head in profile unless otherwise specified.

   a lion rampant.

6. Architecture.,  (of an arch or vault) springing at one side from one level of support and resting at the other on a higher level.

rampant

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• rampantly adverb
• rampancy noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of rampant¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Old French, literally, “creeping, climbing,” present participle of ramper “to creep, crawl, climb”; ramp ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of rampant¹

C14: from Old French ramper to crawl, rear; see _ramp

Example Sentences

Coughs and colds, it seems, are rampant at the moment.

Read more on BBC

Tired of rampant shoplifting scaring away citizens and shoppers, Long Beach is trying to force stores to add staff and reduce dependence on self-checkout.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The current Saudi strategy marks a contrast from the years under Joe Biden, when his administration’s battle against rampant inflation was made much harder by runaway oil prices.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The charges raise the possibility that dissidents, most in their early 20s, could find themselves in maximum-security prisons for decades after allegedly participating in protests against high taxes, poor job prospects and rampant public corruption.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But her plan ran into strong headwinds in a party where patronage is rampant.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• excessive 
• flagrant 
• growing 
• prevalent 
• raging www.thesaurus.com
• rife 
• runaway 
• spreading www.thesaurus.com
• unbridled 
• unchecked 
• uncontrollable 
• unhindered 
• unrestrained 
• wanton