infest

verb

in-ˈfest How to pronounce infest (audio)
Definition of infestnext
as in to plague
to spread or swarm over in a troublesome manner in desperation, we called in an exterminator because the house was infested with ants

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of infest The man takes on work as a trauma cleaner in hopes of facing his past, but the job soon begins to infest and unravel his mental state. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026 Despite those efforts, New World screwworm infested thousands of animals in Panama and Mexico, and in June, the US Department of Agriculture confirmed the first US cases in years. — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026 Otherwise, the flour could go stale in a few months or become infested by bugs in the pantry. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2026 Inspectors noted a rice bucket was heavily infested with roaches. — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for infest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infest
  1. plague
  2. infect
  3. overrun
  4. crawl
  5. overwhelm
Verb
  • Deloitte-run systems have been plagued by errors that can result in eligible people losing their health coverage, previous KFF Health News investigations have shown.
    — Samantha Liss, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The president used an antisemitic slur to defend Marshall’s history of suing patients for medical debt, a controversy that has plagued the incumbent senator in recent weeks.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of plague
Verb
  • Left unchecked, the outbreak still threatens to kill livestock and wildlife, infect pets, and potentially even infect people.
    — Robert Kelly, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Two infants who were infected with measles have died in Pennsylvania this year, both too young to receive the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.
    — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of infect
Verb
  • Stephen Hubbard, 74, is a Michigan native who was living in eastern Ukraine in 2022 when it was overrun by Russian forces and he was detained.
    — Michael Birnbaum, Washington Post, 20 Oct. 2026
  • So, Cartman takes Ike to Sephora, which the kids of South Park have overrun, to pick up some products to help.
    — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of overrun
Verb
  • On thinner material, that gives you a fighting chance at keeping heat and warpage under control without crawling along at a miserable pace.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The bystander told the woman to get down on the floor before crawling into the home beneath the heaviest heat and dragging her to safety, according to the fire department.
    — Richard Ramos, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of crawl
Verb
  • The president left office above water on the economy, with 48% approving and 41% disapproving — high numbers for a president whose last year was overwhelmed by the Covid pandemic.
    — Steve Liesman, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Economic recovery, the official argued, must accompany political reform to prevent a future democratic government from being overwhelmed by debt, failing infrastructure, shortages, inflation and insecurity.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of overwhelm

Browse Nearby Words

infertility
infest
infested
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Cite this Entry

“Infest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infest. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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