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
Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025
Without nerve sensation, the patients weren’t aware of festering ulcers and infections, which therefore went untreated until amputation was the only option.
—Carrie Arnold, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2025
The sensational turn in the case fueled breathless news coverage as the public became hungry for any revelation about the brothers’ motives or the dark secrets that had been festering inside the Menendez family home.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
There have been problems festering — especially with a lackluster, inefficient offense.
—Zach Berman, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fester
Verb
The unexpected performance was doubly surprising as Pluto and YKNiece have spoken publicly about the tension between them that has festered since their breakout hit gained ground this year.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025
Without nerve sensation, the patients weren’t aware of festering ulcers and infections, which therefore went untreated until amputation was the only option.
—Carrie Arnold, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2025
The sensational turn in the case fueled breathless news coverage as the public became hungry for any revelation about the brothers’ motives or the dark secrets that had been festering inside the Menendez family home.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
There have been problems festering — especially with a lackluster, inefficient offense.
—Zach Berman, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fester
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fester
Verb
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Like, rot-your-mind, hindbrain stimulation, violence/gore/goofy villains-type fun.—
Lily Osler,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
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Although pumpkins that have started to turn color can ripen off the vine, leaving them in the garden exposes them to slugs, rot, or damage from a hard freeze.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The thick, cushioned sole keeps my feet cozy and blister-free, while the breathable fabric wicks moisture to prevent overheating on sunny hikes.—
Ariana Dickson,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Nov. 2025
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Most patients have mild symptoms for seven to 10 days, which can include fever, sore throat, painful mouth sores that blister and a rash on the hands and feet, the CDC said.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In contrast to polluting polyester, these fibers are biodegradable and will naturally decompose after disposal.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Nov. 2025
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Leaves need oxygen to properly decompose, and leaves buried in landfills do not have access to any oxygen, according to the National Wildlife Federation.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The jambalaya butter sauce is such a great combo with the shrimp boil—honestly, the butter alone is incredible—and the whole dish is much easier to execute in the oven without having to create a big boil pot.—
Amanda Stanfield,
Southern Living,
8 Nov. 2025
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Community officials have issued a precautionary boil water notice after a water main break led to a loss of pressure, posing a risk of contamination to the public water supply.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Dark Skies does an excellent job of using an alien threat as a metaphor for the pressures on the nuclear American family that lead to so many of them disintegrating.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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Over the years, the roof disintegrated and many of the windows are broken.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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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
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Research suggests that pimple patches aren't effective on cystic acne, pustules, or blackheads.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Verywell Health,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The decaying Avenger is one of a dozen wrecks in three very different underwater environments — the western Pacific Ocean off Saipan, Lake Huron, shared by Michigan and Ontario, and the Italian Mediterranean — investigated as part of the ambitious pilot project involving eDNA.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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The place is decaying and strict, but Luna refuses to give in to its rules.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Skin discoloration happens to the best of us, even those who religiously apply and reapply sunscreen every day or refuse to pick at pimples for fear of scarring.—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
29 Oct. 2025
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Adult acne is characterized by red, angry pimples that typically occur along the lower third of the face around the jawline.—
Ariana Yaptangco,
Glamour,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fester.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fester. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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