FESTERS Synonyms: 71 Similar and Opposite Words

festers 1 of 2

noun

plural of fester

as in boils

a small, inflamed swelling of the skin pus oozed out of the fester

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festers

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of fester

as in rots

to go through decomposition a week after the battle the corpses of the fallen were still festering in the fields

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 festers

Noun

In Afghanistan, tons more of the troops’ trash still festers in the landscape. — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 Sep. 2026 So pretending imbalance isn't happening — like when one partner is regularly absorbing all the work and smiling through it — just delays the same resentment that often festers in exchange relationships. — Mark Travers, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2026 More anxiety festers as the situation leaves unanswered questions of layoffs and more for the $80 billion debt a combo ParaBros will carry if the two iconic companies become one. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026 What occurs over the course of the weekend is what happens as grief festers into rage. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 28 May 2026 Throughout this episode, Austin’s bitterness festers. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026 It festers as part of a long, continuous line. — Theater Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 29 Mar. 2026 When Trimmers fail to recognize this, evil festers. — David Brooks, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026 Steep declines in timber harvests, meant to save Oregon’s last ancient forests, ripped open an urban-rural divide that still festers. — Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for festers

Noun

There are also casual cafes to grab a bite to eat or a drink, serving everything from beignets and Italian specialties to seafood boils and espresso drinks.

— Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2026
At sufficiently low pressure, warm seawater boils at a temperature far below the usual 100 °C (212 °F).

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of boils

Verb

The former may be a cesspool that rots our brains and amplifies ethnic hatred, but its dangers don’t compare to the dangers of RSI.

— Sigal Samuel, Vox, 27 Oct. 2026
In my experience, environment, culture, clarity, psychological safety and pace determine whether talent produces or rots.

— Nilton Bernini, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of rots

Noun

The infected children reported a range of skin and soft tissue symptoms, including spots, pustules, blisters, and abscesses.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
This causes small but often painful red pustules that cluster at the places where the hairstyle is pulling the tightest.

— Ayren Jackson-Cannady, Allure, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of pustules

Verb

Remnants of a wooden spear weren’t found near the Neanderthal’s remains, which is understandable since the material often decomposes so quickly.

— Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2026
Named for the Frenchman Joseph Fourier, the Fourier transform decomposes any function into a set of simple waves, each with a different frequency, or tone.

— Shalma Wegsman, Quanta Magazine, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of decomposes

Noun

Or a period peek at Bond the teen-aged Etonian, with pimples and a tailcoat?

— Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Dermatologists can tailor treatments, from over-the-counter creams to prescription medications; avoid picking pimples, which can worsen inflammation and increase scarring.

— Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of pimples

Verb

With each impact, Sarah’s face disintegrates into a bloodier pulp, her bone structure buckling under every successive thud until Nikki has finally and irrevocably rendered the character a faceless corpse.

— Chris Lee, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026
Even those who can afford to stay suffer losses in home equity and lifestyle as the community around them disintegrates or disappears.

— The Conversation, Fortune, 12 June 2026

Definition of disintegrates

Noun

That process has already included some bumps, with the Heat outscored by 45 points in the 71 minutes that Adebayo and Antetokounmpo played together during its 0-4 start to the season.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026
As his vessel pulled up to a landing ramp on one of the islands — located just off the Antarctic Peninsula — Vanstreels and his fellow researchers immediately noticed bumps in the snow.

— Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of bumps

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“Festers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/festers. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of festers

noun

verb

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