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

As the police department’s ranks shrank, crime festered, both aboveground and below. — Kevin Lozano, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026 But, the most intriguing part of the current situation presiding over the SEC is how many schools are actually on the same page about the economic structure that athletic directors and presidents are currently festering over. — Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 May 2026 Six decades of Cuban history were festering under the country’s blanket of silence, giving us a collective identity crisis. — Abraham Jiménez Enoa, The Dial, 19 May 2026 The high costs of doing business in California, festering labor issues, fierce competition and crime have hit the chain hard in Southern California. — Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for fester

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fester

Verb

This is an abiotic or physiological disorder known as blossom end rot.

— Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026
This can trap the moisture and lead to fungus, diseases, pests, and rot.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 19 July 2026

Definition of rot

Noun

Lefty Nick Lodolo, who is on the IL with a blister on his left index finger for the second time this season, is a free agent after the 2027 season, and right-hander Brady Singer is a free agent after this season.

— C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 17 July 2026
The left-hander exited the game after giving up the homer due to a blister on his left index finger.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 July 2026

Definition of blister

Verb

Of the powerful smell a decomposing body produces, Ho noted the stench was noticeable down the hall from the autopsy room.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2026
About four months after Celeste’s death, her decomposing body was found in the Tesla registered to Burke after it was towed from the Hollywood Hills in September.

— Madeline Morrison, NBC news, 22 July 2026

Definition of decompose

Noun

Costco’s seafood boil kit includes Dungeness crab, mussels, shrimp, clams, roasted red potatoes, corn, and seasoning.

— Molly Burford, Southern Living, 20 July 2026
The repair of the water main break on Headland Drive has been completed, but a boil water advisory remains in effect for residents in the affected area until further notice.

— CBS News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 12 July 2026

Definition of boil

Verb

Flights in early 2025, though, ended in a series of failures including two in which the Starship upper stage disintegrated in a fiery cascade of debris across the skies visible from Florida and the Caribbean.

— Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 July 2026
Rainfall likely caused any additional meteorite fragments that fell outside to disintegrate.

— Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 15 July 2026

Definition of disintegrate

Noun

In animals, the bacterium causes pustules and lesions, predominantly in cattle, sheep, and horses.

— Helen Branswell, STAT, 11 May 2026
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

Definition of pustule

Verb

Community response to the initiative Lyman especially hopes to gain additional funds for neighbors with decaying property and to improve other property in the neighborhoods.

— Julianna Mejia July 17, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2026
If the market's overreaction to the aborted test flight subsides and SpaceX successfully launches next week, those expensive downside puts should decay rapidly.

— Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 17 July 2026

Definition of decay

Noun

Louie’s platform began to grow and grow, and so did her pimple patch usage.

— Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
Some of our favorite Prime Day deals include the viral Laneige lip mask that’s currently at its lowest price ever, collagen sheet masks that are a travel essential, pimple patches, and under-eye treatments that refresh your routine without a trip to the spa.

— Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 26 June 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 26 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of fester

verb

noun

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