as in to rot
to go through decomposition
a week after the battle the corpses of the fallen were still festering in the fields
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Recent Examples of fester
Graham Kates, CBS News, 9 Mar. 2026
The long-festering malaise erupted into street demonstrations last September, triggered by a social media ban, that brought thousands onto the streets, leading to clashes and fatalities that forced the resignation of Oli.
—CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
The tensions festering on platforms like Reddit and X erupted this month at a Frisco City Council meeting.
—Sarah Bahari, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
The camera’s gradual movement embodies festering paranoia, as the heavy strings by composer Marvin Miller break through lengthy, silent stretches in order to highlight dramatic peaks and valleys.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fester
Verb
But since then, the problem has continued to fester.
—Graham Kates, CBS News, 9 Mar. 2026
The long-festering malaise erupted into street demonstrations last September, triggered by a social media ban, that brought thousands onto the streets, leading to clashes and fatalities that forced the resignation of Oli.
—CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
The tensions festering on platforms like Reddit and X erupted this month at a Frisco City Council meeting.
—Sarah Bahari, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
The camera’s gradual movement embodies festering paranoia, as the heavy strings by composer Marvin Miller break through lengthy, silent stretches in order to highlight dramatic peaks and valleys.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fester
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fester
Verb
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Too soggy and the bulbs will rot; however, if the soil is too dry, the bulbs may fail to absorb enough nutrients to thrive.—
Michelle Mastro,
Architectural Digest,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Just keep it a couple of inches away from plant crowns and stems to avoid rotting.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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That way, you aren’t left trying to break in a new pair of sandals while commuting, exploring a new city, or simply trying to walk from your car to the coffee shop without getting a fresh blister.—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
26 Mar. 2026
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If the starting pitching stays healthy – and Greene’s surgery and Nick Lodolo’s and Brady Singer’s blister problems are early red flags – the Reds will be intriguing.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Rockaway Times reported the last whale to wash up on the Rockaways was in May 2025, when the decomposing humpback whale showed up on the beach.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Samantha Johnson received a 15-year, 8-month prison sentence from a Merced County Superior Court judge, ending a four-year legal saga that began in March 2022 with the discovery of Sophia’s decomposing body in this Central Valley city.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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After the tea had finished its boil, Meraj poured it out, straining the steaming, fragrant liquid into small cups.—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
For months — and in some cases years — boil water notices became part of daily life.—
Bridget Shirvell,
Hartford Courant,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Last year, the Dominican Republic deported more than 100,000 Haitians back to their disintegrating country.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The meteor traveled about 58 miles through the upper atmosphere before disintegrating 29 miles above tiny Calflax in unincorporated Fresno County, Cooke said.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Spoiler alert: The monster is definitely real, a lion-bear hybrid covered in disgusting bloody pustules.—
Katie Rife,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Oct. 2025
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In fact, one of the most common triggers of rosacea, which is characterized by flushing, swelling, spider veins, papules, and pustules, is exposure to sunlight.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Major dental work to remove her broken and decaying teeth, concentrated nutrition, antibiotics, vaccines, a spay surgery and an introduction to such simple luxuries as an indoor bed and gentle touch have all been part of Gertie’s healing.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
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Searching the room for clues, Hole spots a decaying hand arranged on the shelf with the thumb removed and the index finger pointing upwards — to the fifth floor.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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This year, Select editors got ahead of any surprise pimples by investigating the difference between skin purging and breakouts, researching the best over-the-counter topicals for teen acne, and asking dermatologists the best blackhead treatments for acne-prone skin.—
David Hickey,
NBC news,
17 Mar. 2026
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Three decades later, that secret arrived on American shores like a tsunami—sheet masks, snail mucin, toner pads, pimple patches lining every retail shelf.—
David Yi,
Allure,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fester.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fester. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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