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 canal that flows between Fort Lauderdale resident Harry Rozelle’s house and his church is so infested with bacteria that his teenage son, Cruz, was hospitalized after swimming in it three years ago. — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026 Good property maintenance and natural and safe methods can get rid of chiggers and prevent them from infesting your space. — Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 22 July 2026 New palms should not be planted in this area as it’s infested with the fungus. — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 July 2026 His father’s journey home from the Trojan War delays over years, allowing gluttonous suitors to infest the family home in an attempt to become the new king of Ithaca. — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for infest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infest
  1. plague
  2. infect
  3. overrun
  4. crawl
  5. overwhelm
Verb
  • The following season, Toney appeared in a career-high 13 games, but he was plagued by drops and a late-season injury.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The project to give the pool a facelift to celebrate the United States’ 250th birthday began in April, but has been beset by difficulties after it became plagued by an algae bloom and the pool’s new blue lining began to peel.
    — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of plague
Verb
  • Those previous outbreaks, which infected dozens or a few hundred people, pale in comparison to this year’s cyclospora disaster, which has sickened more than 22,000 across a huge swath of the country.
    — Yahya Abou-Ghazala, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Unlike traditional hacking attempts, the scam relies on convincing people to infect their own computers.
    — Joshua Sidorowicz, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of infect
Verb
  • So far, five people have died after being buried in mudslides that overran two houses in the central region, while three others were wounded and two people have gone missing, said Pradeep Kodippili, the center's spokesperson.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The northern part of the country is on fire, and the southern border is being overrun by migrants.
    — Britta Miller, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of overrun
Verb
  • Not everyone’s job includes crawling 150 feet through a spillway pipe 20 feet beneath a lake.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
  • Markets do not hold still for a year and a half while your deal crawls through due diligence.
    — Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of crawl
Verb
  • Standing amid the ruins of the villa and grotto, you might be overwhelmed by the ancient mythology that electrifies the air here.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Technology That Actually Works Modern luxury vehicles can overwhelm drivers with technology, and Mercedes certainly hasn’t embraced minimalism here.
    — Karl Brauer, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 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 6 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of infest for Spanish Speakers

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