as in poisoning
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 infecting
That’s the best way to keep the flies from infecting the fruits.
—
Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
These facilities agreed to and completed full cleaning and disinfection procedures to prevent the bacteria from growing and infecting others.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Central America is currently grappling with outbreaks of the destructive pest, which have been threatening livestock and infecting people.
—Dominique Mosbergen, Time, 26 Aug. 2025
The disease can be transmitted when a mosquito bites an infected person, acquiring the parasite, and then bites another person, infecting them.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 19 Aug. 2025
Scammers can intercept security codes and log in to your account by hijacking your phone number or infecting your device.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Their larvae can infest freshwater bodies like lakes, ponds and rivers—infecting people who, for example, swim, fish or wash clothes in the water.
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
The virus, which is infecting people through bites from Aedes mosquitoes, has been spreading in China’s Guangdong province this summer.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
Herd immunity is the percent of the population that needs to be vaccinated to reduce the risk of a disease spreading and infecting those who can’t get vaccinated, either because of age, pregnancy or medical conditions.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 15 Mar. 2025
Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
These facilities agreed to and completed full cleaning and disinfection procedures to prevent the bacteria from growing and infecting others.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Central America is currently grappling with outbreaks of the destructive pest, which have been threatening livestock and infecting people.
—Dominique Mosbergen, Time, 26 Aug. 2025
The disease can be transmitted when a mosquito bites an infected person, acquiring the parasite, and then bites another person, infecting them.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 19 Aug. 2025
Scammers can intercept security codes and log in to your account by hijacking your phone number or infecting your device.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Their larvae can infest freshwater bodies like lakes, ponds and rivers—infecting people who, for example, swim, fish or wash clothes in the water.
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
The virus, which is infecting people through bites from Aedes mosquitoes, has been spreading in China’s Guangdong province this summer.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
Herd immunity is the percent of the population that needs to be vaccinated to reduce the risk of a disease spreading and infecting those who can’t get vaccinated, either because of age, pregnancy or medical conditions.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 15 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infecting
Verb
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Beyond the broader ecological catastrophes that await us, wildfires harm people with smoke that can travel hundreds of kilometers from the source fire, poisoning people with small particles and a portfolio of toxins.—
Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
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In the mid-1890s, her former landlords Israel and Lovey Dunham died after sudden illnesses; Toppan later acknowledged poisoning them, according to Boston Magazine.—
Christina Coulter,
People.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
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This comes as reports continue to roll in that another August update fail has been corrupting PC SSDs when writing large files.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
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May End Up Carrying Weapons—Report Stop the billionaire takeover corrupting our government.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Just as Cassini was sent into Saturn at the end of its mission to avoid contaminating Saturn’s moons with any stowaway organics brought from Earth, so too will Juno be brought to an end by forcing it to plunge into a gas giant world.—
Ethan Siegel,
Big Think,
3 Sep. 2025
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The compression system inside is genius, and the sectioned divider keeps my dirty clothes from contaminating the rest of my items (major win).—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Since our first year there’s been games where there’s kicking each other and fouling each other.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
26 Aug. 2025
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For example, he was caught in possession, which led to Kaoru Mitoma fouling Harry Wilson and presenting Fulham with a free kick in a threatening position.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Without spoiling too much, all of this – and Edwards’ actions during the raid in particular – lead to serious repercussions.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
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Expiring food that couldn’t fit inside the overstuffed refrigerator and freezer sat spoiling on the counter, growing mold and attracting flies.—
Kristen Kidd,
Denver Post,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The European Commission said Google favored its own online display services, giving its ad exchange, AdX, a central role in the adtech supply chain.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Sep. 2025
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The YouTube cameras caught Kelce giving some tough love to Taylor, which involved a small head-butt and loud words.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Infecting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infecting. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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