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
Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 4 Sep. 2025
That nascent friendship was, however, shattered by the 1962 Sino-Indian War, a brief but brutal conflict that established a legacy of deep mistrust and an unresolved border dispute that remains the relationship’s festering wound.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2025
Is the rivalry between Jacob and Morton (Jerry Minor) going to continue to fester?
—EW.com, 26 Aug. 2025
These serious problems in the judiciary’s approach to cybersecurity have been able to fester for decades because the judiciary covers up its own negligence, has no inspector general and repeatedly stonewalls congressional oversight.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fester
Verb
The audit found serious problems, including crazy long lag times for investigating urgent complaints (almost three months for high-priority situations, such as patient deaths) and more than a year for less dire complaints (meaning problems can fester and put patient safety at risk).
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 4 Sep. 2025
That nascent friendship was, however, shattered by the 1962 Sino-Indian War, a brief but brutal conflict that established a legacy of deep mistrust and an unresolved border dispute that remains the relationship’s festering wound.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2025
Is the rivalry between Jacob and Morton (Jerry Minor) going to continue to fester?
—EW.com, 26 Aug. 2025
These serious problems in the judiciary’s approach to cybersecurity have been able to fester for decades because the judiciary covers up its own negligence, has no inspector general and repeatedly stonewalls congressional oversight.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fester
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fester
Verb
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In most parts of the country, tender summer bulbs will either freeze or rot in the ground during winter.—
Erica Browne Grivas,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Oct. 2025
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Garbage, rotting food with bugs and clothing stacked close to the ceiling were also seen in most areas of the house.—
Matthew Cupelli,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Cook, undisturbed, until the tomatoes start to blister on the bottom.—
Robin Miller,
AZCentral.com,
3 Oct. 2025
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Allbirds has long been a favorite among travel writers and frequent flyers thanks to its lightweight, blister-free sneakers that actually hold up on the road.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
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These clippings decompose rapidly, enhancing soil quality and providing nutrients for your turf grass.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Oct. 2025
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Water molecules in the electrolyte tend to decompose, and zinc deposits unevenly, forming dendrites that can cause short circuits.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
While water comes to a boil, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet over medium, stirring occasionally.—
Elizabeth Mervosh,
Southern Living,
5 Oct. 2025
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Many springs feature a visible boil at the water surface above the spring vent, crystal clear water, submerged grasses waving in the current, and a range of fish, turtles, snails and other aquatic animals hiding in the grasses.—
Christopher F. Meindl,
The Conversation,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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When breaking down what the heck happened over the last four months, the first item on the list is the way New York’s starting rotation disintegrated.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
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Her life starts to disintegrate as she becomes embroiled in the world of The Worrall Family.—
Nancy Tartaglione,
Deadline,
30 Sep. 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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For another, there’s the DESI data, our best large-scale structure data at present, which seems to slightly favor the presence of evolving (and, in particular, decaying or weakening) dark energy.—
Ethan Siegel,
Big Think,
3 Oct. 2025
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The new specimen is highly significant because its near-perfect state preserved the soft tissues, which usually decay over time.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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However, the team behind a small study published in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, claim to have developed a two-step pimple patch that actually works.—
Margherita Bassi,
Popular Science,
24 Sep. 2025
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The cockpit, itself about as big as an entire Gulfstream private jet, looks like a pimple bulging from the WindRunner’s staggering frame.—
Andrew Moseman,
IEEE Spectrum,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fester.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fester. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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