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
What neither Bond nor Blofeld know, though, is that Safin has already intercepted Madeline, infecting her with a Heracles variant that is harmless to her but fatal to Blofeld.
—
Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Jan. 2026
Well, this research team from Yale found that their laboratory noses could produce interferons that could then keep the rhinovirus from infecting cells and thus limit the spread of the virus.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
It's revealed that this beauty drug is infecting people with a virus that leads to death, luring in an investigation by FBI Agents Cooper Madsen, played by Evan Peters, and Jordan Bennett, played by Rebecca Hall.
—Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
Set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, the Larian Studios RPG follows a party that seeks to cure themselves of a parasitic tadpole infecting their brains.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 5 Jan. 2026
But while the risk of infecting someone else is lower than if the person had been unvaccinated, some risk still exists, according to the state health department.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 23 Dec. 2025
The virus infecting poultry populations was one reason egg prices skyrocketed earlier this year.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 17 Dec. 2025
In cooler, drier air, those droplets hang around longer, raising the chances of infecting people nearby — the same effect can happen with air conditioning, which also reduces humidity.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Dec. 2025
Measles spreads with extraordinary efficiency through respiratory droplets, infecting 90% of unvaccinated people who are exposed.
—Arkansas Online, 12 Dec. 2025
Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Jan. 2026
Well, this research team from Yale found that their laboratory noses could produce interferons that could then keep the rhinovirus from infecting cells and thus limit the spread of the virus.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
It's revealed that this beauty drug is infecting people with a virus that leads to death, luring in an investigation by FBI Agents Cooper Madsen, played by Evan Peters, and Jordan Bennett, played by Rebecca Hall.
—Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
Set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, the Larian Studios RPG follows a party that seeks to cure themselves of a parasitic tadpole infecting their brains.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 5 Jan. 2026
But while the risk of infecting someone else is lower than if the person had been unvaccinated, some risk still exists, according to the state health department.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 23 Dec. 2025
The virus infecting poultry populations was one reason egg prices skyrocketed earlier this year.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 17 Dec. 2025
In cooler, drier air, those droplets hang around longer, raising the chances of infecting people nearby — the same effect can happen with air conditioning, which also reduces humidity.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Dec. 2025
Measles spreads with extraordinary efficiency through respiratory droplets, infecting 90% of unvaccinated people who are exposed.
—Arkansas Online, 12 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infecting
Verb
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Then Lord Blackwood tries to enact a plan that involves poisoning much of Parliament, and he’s finally thwarted in a third-act fight sequence that plays out on top of London’s Tower Bridge, then in construction.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
4 Feb. 2026
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The document highlighted as an example the case of a Colorado dentist convicted of first-degree murder last year after gradually poisoning his wife with a mix of arsenic, cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, the latter a medication commonly found in over-the-counter eye drops.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But now, federal prosecutors say Hennen is the fixer behind the biggest point-shaving scandal in history, accused of bribing 39 college players, corrupting 17 programs and fixing — or trying fix — 29 games to enrich himself and other gamblers.—
Andy Sheehan,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
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Blakeney then recruited other players on the team, corrupting the integrity of games, according to the indictment.—
Paulina Dedaj , Ryan Morik , Andrew Fone,
FOXNews.com,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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When checking your freezer, inspect glass jars and containers for cracks, which can lead to glass shards contaminating food.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
31 Jan. 2026
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As a result, sewage blockages and overflows became widespread, increasing the risk of wastewater contaminating drinking water sources and heightening the likelihood of outbreaks of diarrhea, hepatitis A and other waterborne diseases in an already vulnerable community.—
Sarah Ferguson,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The areas that translate are the same ones that always translate, like taking care of the ball, finishing possessions, getting to the line and defending without fouling.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
23 Jan. 2026
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One way the Lobos got back in the game was fouling less.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While photography was strictly off limits in certain creative hubs to avoid spoiling unannounced figurines currently in development, the atmosphere on-site remained incredibly jovial.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
23 Jan. 2026
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Winter Storm Fern is already spoiling weekend travel plans for Charlotte airport passengers, with a forecast of snow, sleet, and freezing rain looming over the state.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This research marks the first time scientists have identified the specific amino acids — arginine and tyrosine — that act as molecular glue, giving spider silk its legendary properties.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
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There are also giant granite boulders dotting the shore, giving it a decidedly remote, rugged feel.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Infecting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infecting. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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