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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fester
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 July 2025
In the absence of Eric’s mother, the relationship between Ted and Eric has festered into a staid resentment.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 23 July 2025
The festering situation was even the butt of jokes at the ESPY awards this past week.
—Matt Galka, Baltimore Sun, 18 July 2025
What were once economic forces had become festering blight.
—Jack Fowler, National Review, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for fester
Verb
Your typical diner-in-Trump-land article will reference such topics as the collapse of American manufacturing, the opioids epidemic, and the stubborn resentment that festers around immigration.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 July 2025
In the absence of Eric’s mother, the relationship between Ted and Eric has festered into a staid resentment.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 23 July 2025
The festering situation was even the butt of jokes at the ESPY awards this past week.
—Matt Galka, Baltimore Sun, 18 July 2025
What were once economic forces had become festering blight.
—Jack Fowler, National Review, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for fester
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fester
Verb
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Calcium-rich eggshells can be added to gardens and houseplant soil to prevent issues like blossom end rot and support plants with higher-than-average calcium needs, such as most nightshades, brassicas, and peperomia.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
31 July 2025
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The cherry fruit flies are known to cause damage and rot that renders the fruit unmarketable.—
Natalie Davies,
Freep.com,
26 July 2025
Noun
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Keeping the affected skin area clean and applying petroleum jelly to blisters that have opened may support the healing process.—
Lana Barhum,
Verywell Health,
5 Aug. 2025
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The potentially fatal infection can quickly result in tissue damage and spreading blisters, low blood pressure, fever, organ damage, sepsis and death.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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His family confirmed his death to PEOPLE and in a social media statement on Saturday, Aug. 9, one day after a decomposing body was discovered near the area where the teenager was last seen.—
Nicholas Rice,
People.com,
10 Aug. 2025
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However, the man’s face was badly decomposed and his identification by the city medical examiner is still pending.—
Rebecca White,
New York Daily News,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Fill a large pot with 6 inches of water and bring to a boil.—
Christine Wong,
Saveur,
6 Aug. 2025
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If serving with pasta, bring a large pot of water to a boil.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The flow ran off his bare chest and dripped down toward disintegrating shoes.—
Blake Nelson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Aug. 2025
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The debris collides with Earth's atmosphere at high speed and disintegrates, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
21 July 2025
Noun
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Their venom, similar to a bee’s or wasp’s, results in a painful, itchy pustule or blister on the skin.—
Gareth McGrath,
USA Today,
28 June 2025
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Folliculitis refers to the bacterial or fungal infection of the hair follicle that can lead to redness or pustules centered around the hair follicle.—
Audrey Noble,
Vogue,
1 July 2025
Verb
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However, when viruses were exposed to sunlight, many of them did not survive as long, decaying in under 24 hours.—
Jack Knudson,
Discover Magazine,
13 Mar. 2025
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The result was not only environmental catastrophe but license for unchecked consumption of cheap plastic goods that can take a few minutes to use but hundreds of years to decay.—
Scott W. Stern,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Other images showed a close up of a pimple surrounded by redness on her cheek, as well as the Cougar Town actress using white strips for her teeth.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
12 July 2025
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Taking birth control for acne can help clear up redness, pimples, and other symptoms caused by hormones within two to three months of starting the medication.—
Kelly Burch Published,
Verywell Health,
1 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fester.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fester. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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