infested; infesting; infests
1
: to spread or swarm in or over in a troublesome manner
a slum infested with crime
shark-infested waters
2
: to live in or on as a parasite
Examples of infest in a Sentence
in desperation, we called in an exterminator because the house was infested with ants
Recent Examples on the Web
At a time when division is high and negativity seems to be infesting every corner of people’s day-to-day lives, Lake Street Dive have instead chosen to go down a path of positivity.
—
Dave Gil De Rubio, Oc Register, 25 June 2025
These rodents can infest all aspects of a home, including the shed, garage, attic, or even lawnmowers, automobiles, and barbecue grills.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 19 June 2025
Xenophobia has always colored this nation’s past crackdowns on immigration legal and not, but the Golden State became a noxious cauldron whose anti-immigrant fumes have infested Americans in a way not seen in a century.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2025
Radishes are another cabbage relative that can be infested by problematic pests like aphids and flea beetles.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 15 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for infest
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.
Dave Gil De Rubio, Oc Register, 25 June 2025
These rodents can infest all aspects of a home, including the shed, garage, attic, or even lawnmowers, automobiles, and barbecue grills.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 19 June 2025
Xenophobia has always colored this nation’s past crackdowns on immigration legal and not, but the Golden State became a noxious cauldron whose anti-immigrant fumes have infested Americans in a way not seen in a century.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2025
Radishes are another cabbage relative that can be infested by problematic pests like aphids and flea beetles.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 15 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for infest
Cite this Entry
“Infest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infest. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
infest
verb
in·fest
in-ˈfest 
1
: to spread or swarm in or over in a troublesome manner
a neighborhood infested with crime
shark-infested waters
2
: to live in or on as a parasite
horses infested with worms
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share