Synonyms of infect

infect

verb

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.

Related Words

• poison
• contaminate
• spoil
• foul
• give
• corrupt
• transmit
• pollute
• communicate
• impart
• spread
• taint
• convey
• dirty
• conduct
• defile
• transfuse
• soil
• besmirch
• stain
• transfer
• smudge
• sully
• rot
• blacken
• befoul
• dilute
• foul up
• muddy
• disseminate
• adulterate
• propagate
• mire
• doctor
• diffuse
• smirch
• water down
• grime
• begrime
• broadcast
• hand down
• hand on
• deliver
• hand over
• turn over
• surrender

Dissimilar Words

• sterilize
• purify
• catch
• disinfect
• come down (with)
• clean
• contract
• sanitize
• clarify
• decontaminate
• cleanse
• purge
• clear
• filter
• distill

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of infect

Food and water can carry the parasites after coming into contact with feces infected with tiny cyclospora. — Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 14 July 2026

As of Monday, at least 1,926 people have been infected and 702 died in three provinces in Congo from the rare Bundibugyo virus, Congolese authorities said. — ABC News, 14 July 2026

People contract the illness by consuming food or water contaminated with the feces of a person infected by the parasite. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026

When multiple people in the same vicinity become infected, a typical source is often a cooling tower, hot tub or spray fountain. — Mike Stunson, USA Today, 14 July 2026