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
The Royal Thai Army was once a Circles client, and a 2022 Citizen Lab investigation revealed an extensive government espionage campaign targeting Thai pro-democracy protesters and activists, at least 30 of whom had their devices infected with NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware.
—
Ronald J. Deibert, Foreign Affairs, 24 Apr. 2025
But in the show, Abby accidentally sets loose a horde of infected onto the city, probably for the sake of adding an extra action set piece early in the season.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 21 Apr. 2025
The farm voluntarily recalled the onions after the outbreak infected more than 100 people, killing one person.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 18 Apr. 2025
One person infected with the virus can infect 9 out of 10 people around them if they are unvaccinated, according to the World Health Organization.
—Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech, The Hill, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for infect
Ronald J. Deibert, Foreign Affairs, 24 Apr. 2025
But in the show, Abby accidentally sets loose a horde of infected onto the city, probably for the sake of adding an extra action set piece early in the season.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 21 Apr. 2025
The farm voluntarily recalled the onions after the outbreak infected more than 100 people, killing one person.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 18 Apr. 2025
One person infected with the virus can infect 9 out of 10 people around them if they are unvaccinated, according to the World Health Organization.
—Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech, The Hill, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for infect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infect
Verb
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Morgan was previously married to Keith Whitley from 1986 to his alcohol poisoning death in 1989 at age 34.—
Rachel DeSantis,
People.com,
17 Apr. 2025
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Scores of sea lions and dolphins have been fatally poisoned in recent months by domoic acid, a neurotoxin produced by harmful algal blooms.—
Corinne Purtill,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Martinelli's is recalling more than 170,000 apple juice bottles because their contents may be contaminated by patulin, a toxic substance produced by some fungi.—
Alain Sherter,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2025
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Since 2019, the state’s Marijuana Enforcement Division, known as MED, has issued 63 recalls for cannabis products contaminated with bacteria, fungus, pesticides, heavy metals or other chemicals above the legal limits.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Dodge won't spoil the surprise by confirming if the last one will be based on the Charger or the Challenger (or maybe both), but the evidence suggests the latter is more likely.—
Jack Fitzgerald,
Car and Driver,
13 Feb. 2023
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Farmers’ broiler chickens suffocate, and dairy products spoil.—
Monica Mark,
The Christian Science Monitor,
10 Feb. 2023
Verb
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On the ensuing inbound, Grizzlies star Ja Morant fouled Chet Holmgren.—
Darnell Mayberry,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2025
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After the second strike call, Tatis fouled off four pitches before looking at a fastball well below the zone and a sweeper down and in.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Infect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infect. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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