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
Among the people who provided their HIV status, nearly half were infected with the virus.
—
Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Most people get infected with RSV throughout their lives, and for most healthy adults, the virus causes a cold.
—Ciara McCarthy 14, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Apr. 2026
Despised by all and facing an HR complaint from Nurse Liz (Conni Miu) over the coverup, Richard redeemed himself when he became infected by a deadly virus in the finale which subsequently struck Amy and Liz, among others.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2026
That means that for anyone infected during the airport exposure, the initial generic symptoms would likely have started over the weekend.
—Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for infect
Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Most people get infected with RSV throughout their lives, and for most healthy adults, the virus causes a cold.
—Ciara McCarthy 14, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Apr. 2026
Despised by all and facing an HR complaint from Nurse Liz (Conni Miu) over the coverup, Richard redeemed himself when he became infected by a deadly virus in the finale which subsequently struck Amy and Liz, among others.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2026
That means that for anyone infected during the airport exposure, the initial generic symptoms would likely have started over the weekend.
—Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for infect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infect
Verb
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Protesters, however, say that HERC, which neighbors Target Field near the North Loop neighborhood, is responsible for essentially poisoning people who live nearby.—
Conor Wight,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
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But he was hauled back into court in August 2024 to answer to new allegations that also attempted to poison his daughter, who was then 10, using the same method.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Skin infections from chemicals and contaminated waste, tetanus and hepatitis from needle injuries, respiratory illnesses from toxic fumes, and diseases such as typhoid and cholera.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2026
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Apply too much and the runoff can contaminate waterways.—
Kyla Mandel,
Time,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Without spoiling anything, the musical’s new ending resembles the vague finale of the novel.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
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This sprout is the early stage of a new garlic plant forming inside the clove, not a sign that your garlic has spoiled.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Springer fouled a ball off his foot in Saturday's 7-4 loss.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
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In the third inning, after falling behind quickly in the count, 0-2, Greene fouled off five pitches and evened the count at 2-2 before sending a 408-foot, three-run shot to right center off Miami starter Janson Junk.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Infect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infect. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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