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
Coffee said identifying every contact is difficult in an area where some people may not trust the authorities and others are in denial about Ebola being a real virus or being infected themselves.
—
Bymary Kekatos, ABC News, 3 June 2026
When a male infected with Wolbachia pipientis bacteria mates with a wild female mosquito, the resulting eggs don't hatch, helping reduce the overall population.
—Kimberly Miller, USA Today, 3 June 2026
There are no existing treatments or vaccines for Bundibugyo, which kills about 30% of those infected.
—Eva Flowe
june 3, Charlotte Observer, 3 June 2026
Losing all this fluid is often what kills roughly half of patients who get infected.
—Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for infect
Bymary Kekatos, ABC News, 3 June 2026
When a male infected with Wolbachia pipientis bacteria mates with a wild female mosquito, the resulting eggs don't hatch, helping reduce the overall population.
—Kimberly Miller, USA Today, 3 June 2026
There are no existing treatments or vaccines for Bundibugyo, which kills about 30% of those infected.
—Eva Flowe
june 3, Charlotte Observer, 3 June 2026
Losing all this fluid is often what kills roughly half of patients who get infected.
—Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for infect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infect
Verb
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He was buried alive on a construction site and then poisoned by a venomous rattlesnake that crawled into his coffin and attacked him.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
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Just months after Netflix announced its plans to produce the series, Lin was poisoned and killed at age 39.—
Sylvie Zhuang,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
Verb
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People develop foodborne illnesses when their food is contaminated with a wide range of hazards, including parasites, chemicals and microorganisms, Jean said.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
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Forty-six percent of post-consumer footwear waste is re-wearable, while the remaining 4 percent is contaminated and hindered from recycling due to damage from moisture, paint, heavy dirt, chemicals or other contaminants.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Footwear News,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Telling the truth would cost millions and would spoil every car on the gravy train.—
Adam Graham,
Boston Herald,
4 June 2026
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While the Giants had a chance to spoil Harrison’s predictable revenge game, the Brewers effectively put the game to rest by scoring four runs in the bottom of the eighth to create a commanding five-run lead.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Alexa Spaanstra fouled Jayden Perry in the box for the penalty kick that Wilson converted for her fifth goal of the season.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 May 2026
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Tolle threw 27 pitches in the third, 28 in the fourth and 21 in the fifth, and over those three innings there were four at-bats where a Braves hitter fouled off three or more pitches.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Infect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infect. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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