How to Use diphtheria in a Sentence

diphtheria

noun
  • Epidemics such as cholera and diphtheria ravaged the poor and rich alike.
    — Alexandra Mullen, WSJ, 11 Aug. 2017
  • Cholera and diphtheria have been rampant, and once again, Yemen faces a new surge in hunger.
    — Author: Kathy Gannon, Andrew Meldrum and Lee Keath, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Dec. 2020
  • The world is ill prepared for a major resurgence in diphtheria.
    — Patricia Callahan, ProPublica, 19 Mar. 2026
  • In Venezuela there are at least three epidemics at work, measles, diphtheria and malaria.
    — Luciana Magalhaes and Juan Forero, WSJ, 31 Oct. 2018
  • Had diphtheria ruined his heart?
    — Patricia Callahan, ProPublica, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Eleanor was 9 when her parents died of diphtheria, and she was packed off to her grandmother's house.
    — Jacqueline Cutler, Star Tribune, 3 May 2021
  • And every member of the family should record the date of their last tetanus-diphtheria shot in this record.
    — Kirsten Korosec, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2017
  • All family members should also record the date of their last tetanus-diphtheria shot in this record as well.
    — Naseem S. Miller, OrlandoSentinel.com, 6 Sep. 2017
  • Other vaccines, like ones for diphtheria, tetanus, and polio are four doses or more.
    — William Haseltine, CNN, 14 Sep. 2021
  • And adults should get booster shots to protect against tetanus and diphtheria every 10 years or so.
    — Donavyn Coffey, SELF, 21 May 2021
  • The shots protect against diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus and mumps, which once plagued children and their parents.
    — NPR, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Victoria succumbed to a bad cold, her doctor suffered from a sore throat, the cook had diphtheria.
    — Jonathan Miles, Town & Country, 5 Sep. 2023
  • The vaccine works well against diphtheria and tetanus, but is less effective over time for pertussis.
    — Erika Edwards, NBC News, 20 Sep. 2024
  • When diphtheria seemed like a problem of the past, though, the Soviet Union eased up.
    — Patricia Callahan, ProPublica, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Some still have not caught up on shots for diseases like polio, measles, whooping cough and diphtheria, all of which can be dangerous.
    — Dallas News, 11 Oct. 2022
  • One of Putin's elder brothers died of diphtheria during the siege and the other died a few months after birth.
    — Fox News, 17 Mar. 2018
  • There are two types of combination vaccines that protect against whooping cough, as well as diphtheria and tetanus.
    — Chantelle Lee, Time, 15 Apr. 2025
  • This includes the shingles vaccine and the tetanus-diphtheria-whooping cough vaccine.
    — Nerd Wallet, oregonlive, 3 Feb. 2023
  • The pertussis vaccine, which also protects against diphtheria and tetanus, is given at two months, four months and six months.
    — Alix Martichoux, The Hill, 6 May 2025
  • Students starting seventh grade must have a Tdap shot, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough.
    — Sacbee.com, 29 July 2025
  • Von Behring had taken serum from sheep exposed to diphtheria and used it to treat a child infected with the bacteria.
    — Gary Stix, Scientific American, 3 Nov. 2020
  • Four doses of diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis are required for preschool, child care and Head Start.
    — OregonLive.com, 16 Aug. 2017
  • Twain’s only son died of diphtheria at 18 months, and Twain unfairly blamed himself.
    — Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 9 May 2025
  • Neel’s daughter—her second, after a baby who died of diphtheria—grew up mostly in the care of those in-laws in Havana.
    — Joanna Scutts, The New Republic, 20 June 2022
  • State law still would require vaccines for polio, measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus.
    — Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
  • State law still would require vaccines for polio, measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus.
    — Cindy Krischer Goodman, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Conditions such as mpox and diphtheria can worsen quickly if not managed properly.
    — Isabel Van Brugen, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
  • Tdap contains one full strength dose of the tetanus vaccine, and lesser doses of the diphtheria and whooping cough vaccines, per Healthline.
    — Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
  • The Tdap vaccine also provides protection against tetanus and diphtheria.
    — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 22 Dec. 2025
  • In many parts of the world, clinicians never stopped caring for measles, meningitis, hepatitis, tetanus, diphtheria, or mumps.
    — Krutika Kuppalli, STAT, 12 Jan. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'diphtheria.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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