as in poisoned
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
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of infected
Additionally, the Avian Metapneumovirus (AMPV) infected 60-80 percent of turkey flocks in 2024 and continues to be an issue, according to the AFBF.
—
Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2025
In severe cases, as long as the tissue wasn’t infected or necrotic, Strickland would gently place it back inside with purse-string stitches.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Some ferrets that drank the raw milk became infected, but none of the ferrets that ate the cheese got sick.
—Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 3 Nov. 2025
Foxes, bobcats and coyotes can be infected with trichinosis, a parasitic infection.
—Stuart Dyos, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for infected
Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2025
In severe cases, as long as the tissue wasn’t infected or necrotic, Strickland would gently place it back inside with purse-string stitches.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Some ferrets that drank the raw milk became infected, but none of the ferrets that ate the cheese got sick.
—Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 3 Nov. 2025
Foxes, bobcats and coyotes can be infected with trichinosis, a parasitic infection.
—Stuart Dyos, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for infected
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infected
Verb
-
Residents are also urged to watch children closely while playing outdoors where mushrooms grow and to keep pets away, since animals can be poisoned as well.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
In June 2024, Bich poisoned a fourth relative — a teenager — who survived after collapsing and being rushed to the hospital, where doctors discovered cyanide in his stomach and alerted the family, the outlets reported.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
27 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Among the recipients of the December funding were the small communities of Ashford and Willington, which are trying to deal with the more than 350-acre contaminated Candlerock property.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Diesel fuel was mixed with regular unleaded gasoline and that contaminated mixture was distributed to gas stations run by Costco, Murphy Express and King Soopers across the Denver metro, according to Colorado’s Division of Oil and Public Safety.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Ohtani was critical of himself for following up a 97-mph hour fastball that Guerrero fouled off with the pitch Guerrero hit for his seventh homer of these playoffs.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Gonzalez fouled Brunson once but otherwise held up respectably against the Knicks star in his maiden shift.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Trump has thoroughly corrupted the Justice Department, but its selective prosecutions of his foes have been thwarted by judges and, more strikingly, by grand juries.—
Michelle Goldberg,
Mercury News,
30 Dec. 2025
-
Murry corrupted and perverted and destroyed Katherine both as a person and a writer […] Her gifts were those of an intense realist, with a superb sense of ironic humour and fundamental cynicism.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Infected.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infected. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share