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
Several years ago, a number of babies in New York City were infected with herpes via metzitzah b’peh.
—
Philissa Cramer, Sun Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026
Unfortunately, people can still pass on norovirus for two weeks or more after being infected.
—Adrianna Rodriguez, USA Today, 15 Feb. 2026
Each measles patient can infect a dozen or more unvaccinated people, and cases in your community are multiplying rapidly.
—Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
Each year in Norway, about 2% of babies infected with RSV are admitted to the hospital.
—Ariana Hendrix, STAT, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for infect
Philissa Cramer, Sun Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026
Unfortunately, people can still pass on norovirus for two weeks or more after being infected.
—Adrianna Rodriguez, USA Today, 15 Feb. 2026
Each measles patient can infect a dozen or more unvaccinated people, and cases in your community are multiplying rapidly.
—Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
Each year in Norway, about 2% of babies infected with RSV are admitted to the hospital.
—Ariana Hendrix, STAT, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for infect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infect
Verb
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Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died in prison after being poisoned by a frog toxin, five European countries said Saturday.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
15 Feb. 2026
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Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in a remote Siberian prison two years ago, was almost certainly poisoned with a deadly toxin found in South American dart frogs, five European governments said Saturday.—
Nandika Chatterjee,
Time,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Owners of a dozen coal ash ponds across Indiana have even more time to clean up utility waste environmental advocates have long been saying contaminates the state’s water.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
17 Feb. 2026
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The Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund program’s work started decades ago to clean up sites contaminated by hazardous waste from mining operations, landfills and factories.—
Chloe Bennett-Steele,
StateImpact,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Canada’s comeback spoiled good performances by a pair of Anaheim Ducks.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
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The rampant speculation was also fueled by the existence of another clip in which Ansell appears to spoil a major plot point for a potential future season of the show.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Schnall fouled Ishbia in the first quarter, and Ishbia hit the free throws in a throwback to his Michigan State playing days.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 Feb. 2026
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The incident took place midway through the third quarter after Duren was fouled by Diabaté while driving toward the basket.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Infect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infect. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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