as in to rot
to go through decomposition
a week after the battle the corpses of the fallen were still festering in the fields
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
There was the diabetic afraid to pick up insulin, the patient with a treatable wound that festered and required a trip to the intensive care unit, and the hospital staffers — from Latin America, Somalia, Myanmar and elsewhere — too scared to come to work.
—Tim Sullivan, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026
There was the diabetic afraid to pick up insulin, the patient with a treatable wound that festered and required a trip to the intensive care unit, and the hospital staffers — from Latin America, Somalia, Myanmar and elsewhere — too scared to come to work.
—Tim Sullivan, Twin Cities, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fester
Verb
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
There was the diabetic afraid to pick up insulin, the patient with a treatable wound that festered and required a trip to the intensive care unit, and the hospital staffers — from Latin America, Somalia, Myanmar and elsewhere — too scared to come to work.
—Tim Sullivan, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026
There was the diabetic afraid to pick up insulin, the patient with a treatable wound that festered and required a trip to the intensive care unit, and the hospital staffers — from Latin America, Somalia, Myanmar and elsewhere — too scared to come to work.
—Tim Sullivan, Twin Cities, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fester
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fester
Verb
-
How to get rid of fruit flies To quickly eliminate fruit flies, start by thoroughly cleaning your kitchen and removing overripe or rotting fruits and vegetables.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Soft, mushy roots with a sour smell are a sign of wet rot from overwatering, which is tougher—but not impossible—to come back from.—
Alexandra Jones,
The Spruce,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Look for cushioning in the shin, ankle, and toe box areas specifically, as this is where an unforgiving ski boot can batter, blister, and bruise you.—
Jonathan Thompson,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The couples received blister wounds on their forearms — and then were divided into four groups.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
To prevent the fallow area from turning into a weed patch, cover it with agricultural-grade plastic or a thick layer of slowly decomposing mulch such as wood chips.—
Nadia Hassani,
The Spruce,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Most paper products decompose in landfills within a couple of months, according to RecycleNation, a recycling technology company.—
Julia James,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The race for California governor has been a low-boil, late-developing affair, noteworthy mostly for its lack of a whole lot that has been noteworthy.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Heiduk says to keep the heat on a low simmer and avoid a full boil, which will cause the onions to break down too much.—
Heather Riske,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
By 2019, Virginia photographer John Plashal caught wind of what was disintegrating on Hankins' out-of-the-way acres.—
Danielle Paquette The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Around the world, states were disintegrating, climate systems were approaching tipping points, economies were stagnating, and inequality was rising.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
17 Feb. 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
-
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
-
Importance of Cleaning Lawn Debris Before Spring Clearing your lawn of debris, such as matted leaves and branches, increases airflow, allows sunlight to penetrate, and prevents disease and pests, as decaying matter is a breeding ground for fungal diseases like snow mold.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Over long periods of time, and sometimes very long periods of time, their orbits will decay, and the two components will inspiral and eventually merge.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The multiple red-light wavelengths help reduce inflammation, calming redness from clusters of pimples.—
Jacqueline Kilikita,
Refinery29,
12 Feb. 2026
-
The decision came from the director and her cinematographer, Marcel Zyskind, who needed a very tight shot of the pimple pop.—
Simon Thompson,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fester.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fester. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
