rampant
adjective
[ ˈramp(ə)nt ]
• (especially of something unwelcome) flourishing or spreading unchecked.
• "political violence was rampant"
Similar:
uncontrolled,
unrestrained,
unchecked,
unbridled,
widespread,
pandemic,
epidemic,
pervasive,
out of control,
out of hand,
rife,
spreading like wildfire,
• (of an animal) represented standing on one hind foot with its forefeet in the air (typically in profile, facing the dexter side, with right hind foot and tail raised).
• "two gold lions rampant"
Origin:
Middle English (as a heraldic term): from Old French, literally ‘crawling’, present participle of ramper (see ramp). From the original use describing a wild animal arose the sense ‘fierce’, whence the current notion of ‘unrestrained’.
