infest

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 Exposure can occur when people are cleaning up in buildings infested by rodents. Martha Ross, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2025 In Leech, a parasitic hive mind that infests people discovers another parasitic hive mind that infests people, competing for the same brain space (told in first-person from the POV of the former parasitic hive mind). Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025 As if dealing with fleas in your yard isn’t enough, these little bloodsuckers can infest your home, too. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 31 Mar. 2025 In Leech, a parasitic hive mind that infests people discovers another parasitic hive mind that infests people, competing for the same brain space (told in first-person from the POV of the former parasitic hive mind). Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for infest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infest
Verb
  • Another equipment outage struck air traffic controllers for Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday morning, briefly disrupting some inbound flights and further highlighting the ongoing technology issues plaguing the airport.
    Zach Wichter, USA Today, 12 May 2025
  • Flanagan boys track coach Jessica Carter said the inclement weather which plagued the meet the entire weekend and forced the postponement of the 3A meet until Saturday posed problems for her boys team.
    Gary Curreri, Sun Sentinel, 12 May 2025
Verb
  • Pegasus is able to remotely infect user’s devices without their knowledge.
    Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 12 May 2025
  • By this time, anti-woke sentiment had infected the mainstream and interest in showy egalitarianism and visible diversity was noticeably lower.
    Rachel Corbett, Vulture, 8 May 2025
Verb
  • The landing maneuver was unsuccessful: the Airbus overran the runway and crashed into a TAM cargo building located directly across from the airport.
    Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014 after sending troops to overrun it.
    Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • When the window broke, the bear crawled out safely and returned to the woods.
    Shyla Watson, People.com, 10 May 2025
  • Inspectors saw one rat crawling from the top equipment shelf in an unapproved back dry storage area onto the roof, and another rat on an electrical line behind a two-door household freezer/refrigerator in the same dry storage area.
    Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 9 May 2025
Verb
  • Authorities said rushing water in a nearby creek overwhelmed the area.
    John Bacon, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • Whatever the case, Indiana’s full-court pressure, physicality on the perimeter and timely shooting overwhelmed the Cavs at times and were enough to overcome early and late deficits at other points throughout the series.
    Joe Vardon, New York Times, 14 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Infest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infest. Accessed 18 May. 2025.

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