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
Over the past two years, the epidemic has left a devastating trail, infecting more than 220,000 individuals, and claiming the lives of over 4,000 people in 19 countries across the continent.
—
John Drake, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Hantavirus is typically spread from rodents to people, but the particular strain that’s infecting those on the cruise, according to the WHO — the Andes strain — is the only kind that can also be transmitted from person to person.
—Elizabeth Yuko, Rolling Stone, 8 May 2026
The procedure, called variolation, involved deliberately infecting a soldier with a small amount of smallpox virus to build immunity.
—Katrine L. Wallace, The Conversation, 28 Apr. 2026
Interest in her field exploded in the late 1990s and again in the mid-aughts when the H5N1 bird flu virus began infecting and killing mass numbers of poultry in China and other parts of Southeast Asia — and infecting and killing some people as well.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 25 Apr. 2026
In some experiments, scientists have reactivated viruses that remained capable of infecting host cells after thawing, though none have been linked to human illness.
—Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
Neem oil coats the leaves and prevents disease spores from infecting them.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026
The duo’s follow-up project Los Frikis, a drama based on true events about group of punk rockers in ’90s Cuba who cultivate a utopian refuge from society after deliberately infecting themselves with HIV, was similarly lauded.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2026
Aisuru and Kimwolf work by first infecting vulnerable online devices, enslaving them into a network of hijacked computers.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 20 Mar. 2026
John Drake, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Hantavirus is typically spread from rodents to people, but the particular strain that’s infecting those on the cruise, according to the WHO — the Andes strain — is the only kind that can also be transmitted from person to person.
—Elizabeth Yuko, Rolling Stone, 8 May 2026
The procedure, called variolation, involved deliberately infecting a soldier with a small amount of smallpox virus to build immunity.
—Katrine L. Wallace, The Conversation, 28 Apr. 2026
Interest in her field exploded in the late 1990s and again in the mid-aughts when the H5N1 bird flu virus began infecting and killing mass numbers of poultry in China and other parts of Southeast Asia — and infecting and killing some people as well.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 25 Apr. 2026
In some experiments, scientists have reactivated viruses that remained capable of infecting host cells after thawing, though none have been linked to human illness.
—Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
Neem oil coats the leaves and prevents disease spores from infecting them.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026
The duo’s follow-up project Los Frikis, a drama based on true events about group of punk rockers in ’90s Cuba who cultivate a utopian refuge from society after deliberately infecting themselves with HIV, was similarly lauded.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2026
Aisuru and Kimwolf work by first infecting vulnerable online devices, enslaving them into a network of hijacked computers.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infecting
Verb
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The chemotherapy doctors are poisoning you.—
Eileen Finan,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
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Boys State team Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss are behind Teenage Wasteland, which revisits the story of a group of teenagers in upstate New York, who in the early 1990s make a film that uncovers a conspiracy that is poisoning their community.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Verb
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An early discussion about social contracts comes down to us in Plato’s dialogue Crito in which Socrates, condemned to death for allegedly corrupting the youth, refused an offer to escape from prison.—
George G. Szpiro,
Big Think,
9 Apr. 2026
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Meanwhile, the Pima County Sheriff Office investigating Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance is facing troubles of its own, as a former sheriff has accused current leadership of ‘corrupting’ the crime scene, and a deputy has been arrested and fired on a kidnapping charge.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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For every grousing old-timer who felt that Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman was contaminating the genre came another who expressed sheer joy that such a show even existed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
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Over the years, villagers in Roko-Roko held demonstrations, accusing the mining company of clearing community farmland and contaminating a local spring.—
NPR,
NPR,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Leading off the sixth inning Sunday, Lewis unsuccessfully tried to bunt for a hit twice, fouling off both pitches.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
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The Sixers made their run by intentionally fouling Mitchell Robinson away from the ball — the classic Hack-a-Shaq technique.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Despite a sluggish start, the Atlanta Dream gutted out a 77-72 victory over the Dallas Wings on Tuesday night, spoiling the Wings' home opener and improving their record to 2-0 in the process.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
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Anyone can shop the deals, but there are a few ways to save when spoiling your pets.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
12 May 2026
Verb
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And the end came well before midnight, with goals by Mitch Marner and Brett Howden in the first 8½ minutes giving Vegas a commanding lead before many in the late-arriving weeknight crowd had made it to their seats at the Honda Center.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
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Las Vegas moved on from the quarterback this offseason in favor of Cousins and Mendoza, less than a year after giving Smith more than $58 million guaranteed.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Infecting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infecting. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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