as in to poison
to pass something harmful (such as a disease) to someone or something else
If you come to work when you're sick, you'll infect everyone in the office.
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Recent Examples of infect
Terashita said it's believed that the children put raccoon feces in their mouths and got infected.
—
Amy Corral, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
If a houseplant is infected with thrips, isolate it immediately.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 3 Mar. 2026
Kansas had an outbreak last year, which infected 90.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2026
And you can be infected multiple times in your life.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for infect
Amy Corral, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
If a houseplant is infected with thrips, isolate it immediately.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 3 Mar. 2026
Kansas had an outbreak last year, which infected 90.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2026
And you can be infected multiple times in your life.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for infect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infect
Verb
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Robert Josh Grossman read through several pages of text messages between him and Kouri Richins, who is accused of poisoning her husband with a fatal dose of fentanyl.—
Minyvonne Burke,
NBC news,
5 Mar. 2026
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Condors vanished from the state’s North Coast after the arrival of European settlers, who killed other animals with lead bullets and strychnine — poisoning the raptors that feed on carrion.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Don't risk contaminating the soil, starting a fire, or worse to remove a stump.—
Daniel Scott,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Mar. 2026
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Trader Joe’s, Ralphs and others have recalled some frozen food products amid concerns they may be contaminated with glass.—
Iris Kwok,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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South Florida’s bar scene is constantly spoiling us.—
Phillip Valys,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Mar. 2026
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Rancidity occurs when naturally occurring fats in the flour oxidize, like how olive oil can spoil.—
Amy Sherman,
Martha Stewart,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Evans stole the ball from Hannes Steinbach, who quickly fouled, and Washington coach Danny Sprinkle, who thought Steinbach had been fouled, erupted.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Mar. 2026
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But the Lady Spartans were forced to foul the rest of the way to save time on the clock, and North Paulding hit 7-of-10 from the free-throw line down the stretch to preserve the win.—
Jeff Gable,
AJC.com,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Infect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infect. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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