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
In one case, a pregnant woman experienced fetal loss as a result of a related infection.
—
Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 7 Oct. 2025
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1,250 people in the United States get listeriosis each year, and about 172 die from the infection.
—News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
Malware infections are more common than many Mac users realize, and spotting them early can make all the difference.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2025
In one case, a pregnant woman experienced fetal loss as a result of a related infection.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for infection
Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 7 Oct. 2025
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1,250 people in the United States get listeriosis each year, and about 172 die from the infection.
—News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
Malware infections are more common than many Mac users realize, and spotting them early can make all the difference.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2025
In one case, a pregnant woman experienced fetal loss as a result of a related infection.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for infection
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infection
Noun
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But some healthy people still want to get vaccinated to reduce their risk of getting sick at all, missing work or school, developing long COVID or spreading the virus to vulnerable people, such as older family members and friends with other health issues.—
Pien Huang,
NPR,
6 Oct. 2025
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The signoff is also coming later than usual for the fall respiratory virus season.—
Brenda Goodman,
CNN Money,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Did the germ of the idea begin with you?—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
2 Oct. 2025
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Pet dander can trigger allergies, and animals can carry harmful germs.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Infection.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infection. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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