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
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 6 Feb. 2026
Tempers festering and building.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 4 Feb. 2026
The bad blood festered for months.
—Chris McKenna, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Internal tension about direction and leadership succession festered within the firm.
—Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fester
Verb
That’ll leave an already tense relationship festering through the end of the season as both sides are left to reckon with a true fall from grace.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 6 Feb. 2026
Tempers festering and building.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 4 Feb. 2026
The bad blood festered for months.
—Chris McKenna, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Internal tension about direction and leadership succession festered within the firm.
—Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fester
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fester
Verb
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Be sure to keep the mulch at least two inches away from the stems or stalks of vegetable plants to help prevent rot from too much moisture.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
14 Mar. 2026
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When Corms Don't Sprout If your corms haven’t sprouted after two weeks, there could be several reasons for this, such as rotting due to overwatering, insufficient warmth and humidity, or the corms being too dry.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But left-hander Andrew Nardi, who returned to game action on Tuesday after missing all of camp with a blood blister on a finger, also factors into the equation, despite missing all of last season with a back injury.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
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These hydrocolloid gel bandages seal the blister and provide cushioning against further friction, which will get your kids back in the mood to meet Minnie Mouse super fast.—
Terri Peters,
Parents,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The detail was that Rivas’ body was not only badly decomposed when it was found – it had been dismembered and separated into two bags before being placed in the trunk of the Tesla.—
Allison Gordon,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
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Buildup occurs when grass grows faster than the layer of thatch can decompose.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Residents have been under a boil water advisory since the break caused a loss of pressure in the water system.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
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Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil.—
Erin Merhar,
Southern Living,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Hollywood, the name for the entertainment industry headquartered and operating in Los Angeles County, is disintegrating.—
Geoff Colvin,
Fortune,
13 Mar. 2026
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And while most of the spacecraft will likely disintegrate in a flaming blaze during reentry, a few components could survive, according to NASA.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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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Chunks of decaying organic matter, and the spaces made by the creatures that feed on it, make the soil lighter and more porous.—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
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Rusting agricultural equipment and decaying barns gave the sci-fi story an eerie texture that’s strangely suited to a movie theater in a trailer.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
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Spot treatments for pimples are one of the best ways to target breakouts.—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fester.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fester. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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