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
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, 1 Oct. 2025
When left unattended in a basement for a prolonged period, things are bound to acquire mold and mildew or become infested with unwelcome guests.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Oct. 2025
Quagga mussels and golden mussels, fingernail-sized invaders infesting California waterways, clog the water pumps and pipes responsible for distributing water to millions of people and vast stretches of farmland.
—Pam Marrone, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
The home was hoarded, covered in refuse and infested with insects.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 23 Sep. 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.
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025
When left unattended in a basement for a prolonged period, things are bound to acquire mold and mildew or become infested with unwelcome guests.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Oct. 2025
Quagga mussels and golden mussels, fingernail-sized invaders infesting California waterways, clog the water pumps and pipes responsible for distributing water to millions of people and vast stretches of farmland.
—Pam Marrone, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
The home was hoarded, covered in refuse and infested with insects.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 23 Sep. 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 8 Oct. 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