as in virus
an abnormal state caused by contact with harmful organisms (such as bacteria or viruses)
There is a viral infection spreading among the schoolchildren.
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Recent Examples of infection
Hospital officials said the risk of infection to staff remained low but called the quarantine a precautionary measure.
—
Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
Eight of those cases have been laboratory confirmed for Andes virus infection, while two are considered probable cases.
—Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 16 May 2026
Yasmin Ashburnham, a mother of two from Rye, England, began experiencing chest infections, anaemia and fatigue, so she was rushed to the hospital in October 2022, according to the BBC.
—Lexi Lane, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
In a follow-up exam conducted six years after the infection, vestiges of the virus’s RNA were found in the man’s semen.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for infection
Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
Eight of those cases have been laboratory confirmed for Andes virus infection, while two are considered probable cases.
—Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 16 May 2026
Yasmin Ashburnham, a mother of two from Rye, England, began experiencing chest infections, anaemia and fatigue, so she was rushed to the hospital in October 2022, according to the BBC.
—Lexi Lane, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
In a follow-up exam conducted six years after the infection, vestiges of the virus’s RNA were found in the man’s semen.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for infection
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infection
Noun
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This marks Congo’s 17th recorded Ebola outbreak since the virus was first identified in the country in 1976.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
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The virus appears to trigger a destructive host response in which infected endothelium, immune activation, platelets, coagulation, cytokine signaling, and complement converge to destabilize the vascular barrier.—
Steve Brozak,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
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These precede adaptive responses, acting as first-line, non-specific defenses against germs and injury.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
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Wear gloves to protect yourself from any germs or parasites, then throw the nest in the trash.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Infection.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infection. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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