FESTER Synonyms: 71 Similar and Opposite Words

fester 1 of 2

verb

ˈfe-stər

Definition of fester

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fester

2 of 2

noun

as in blister

a small, inflamed swelling of the skin pus oozed out of the fester

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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 fester

Verb

In response to angry, sometimes mocking, questions from Republican senators, Fauci declined to answer more than 100 times, injecting new drama into partisan divides that have festered for years about the origins and handling of the pandemic. — Lauran Neergaard, Fortune, 29 July 2026 The conditions that allowed MAHA to flourish—the trust deficit, the corporate entanglements, the gap between research and community, the invisibility of public health in people’s daily lives—have been festering for decades. — Craig Spencer, The Atlantic, 25 July 2026 Beneath all the splendor, the couture, the balls, and the opera lurked an undercurrent of hatred, one that would fester and erupt in ways both insidious and catastrophic. — Literary Hub, 17 July 2026 Fallout from the arrests and remaining charges, however, are likely to fester. — Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 9 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for fester

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fester

Verb

The blaze left more than 89 million pounds of rotting food, triggering over 4,900 odor complaints and 38 violation notices as Lineage missed the city’s 45-day cleanup deadline despite a $150-million effort.

— Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
Trim away any soft or rotting roots with a clean, sharp knife.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of rot

Noun

After eventually being transferred to a nearby hospital, the resident was diagnosed with sepsis and toxic epidermal necrolysis, a rare and life-threatening skin condition which causes a person’s skin to blister.

— Matan Josephy, Idaho Statesman, 31 Aug. 2026
Cabrera, the veteran starter acquired from the Miami Marlins, is scheduled for a rehab outing at Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday after a blister forced him to the IL.

— Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of blister

Verb

McGraw said their policy is to allow carcasses to decompose naturally, which is similar to rules followed by the Forest Preserves of Cook County, Cotter said.

— Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
Most of the remains were severely decomposed, but investigators believed Montgomery had been dead for less than a day when he was found.

— ABC News, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of decompose

Noun

Stir and bring to a boil, then cover, reduce the heat to the lowest setting, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, until most of the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is tender.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
Reheat it in a saucepan over medium-low heat, bringing it just to a simmer but not a full boil.

— Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of boil

Verb

Scott’s face, in this shot, is a whole novel, disintegrating into tears before being shored up again, eventually rearranged into something resembling a welcoming smile that teeters on the edge of collapse.

— Alison Willmore, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026
But slack defending allowed Chelsea’s individual quality to shine and as the match wore on, United’s confidence disintegrated.

— Cerys Jones, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of disintegrate

Noun

The infected children reported a range of skin and soft tissue symptoms, including spots, pustules, blisters, and abscesses.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
This causes small but often painful red pustules that cluster at the places where the hairstyle is pulling the tightest.

— Ayren Jackson-Cannady, Allure, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of pustule

Verb

The book takes on the form of a journal by Utsugi, an aging patriarch, who, recovering from a stroke, discovers that while his body is decaying, his libido rages on.

— Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026
Some detest the compost odor; others say decaying food attracts rats.

— Emily Staunton, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of decay

Noun

The biggest overnight mistakes include sleeping in makeup, skipping moisturizer, over-exfoliating, using SPF as a night cream and picking at pimples in bed.

— Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Blind pimple that never breaks through the skin but causes undue chaos below?

— Kiana Murden, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of pimple

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fest

fester

festered

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“Fester.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fester. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of fester

verb

noun

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