as in poisons
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 infects
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, listeria infects 1,250 people per year in the United States, 172 of which are killed by the infection.
—
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2025
This is the enzyme that infects and spreads.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Commonly known as the brain worm, Parelaphostrongylus tenuis is a parasitic nematode that infects a large range of wild and domestic herbivores, such as moose and elk.
—Jessie Richards, The Conversation, 12 Sep. 2025
One infected person infects 15 more people on average.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 12 Sep. 2025
Screwworm is actually a fly that gets its name from how its larva infects a host.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
It’s caused by a parasite that infects red blood cells through the bite of a tick.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2025
Earlier in 2025, for example, Sieben reported how the influenza A virus infects human cells.
—Katarina Zimmer, JSTOR Daily, 14 Aug. 2025
The virus infects rabbits, causing keratinous carcinomas, typically on or near the animal's head.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2025
This is the enzyme that infects and spreads.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Commonly known as the brain worm, Parelaphostrongylus tenuis is a parasitic nematode that infects a large range of wild and domestic herbivores, such as moose and elk.
—Jessie Richards, The Conversation, 12 Sep. 2025
One infected person infects 15 more people on average.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 12 Sep. 2025
Screwworm is actually a fly that gets its name from how its larva infects a host.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
It’s caused by a parasite that infects red blood cells through the bite of a tick.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2025
Earlier in 2025, for example, Sieben reported how the influenza A virus infects human cells.
—Katarina Zimmer, JSTOR Daily, 14 Aug. 2025
The virus infects rabbits, causing keratinous carcinomas, typically on or near the animal's head.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infects
Verb
-
Absolute power corrupts absolutely.—
Heidi Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Untreated nitrogen often contaminates groundwater and causes algal blooms that damage ecosystems.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Aug. 2025
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Leached water from textile waste in landfills contaminates groundwater with harmful chemicals and dyes, which can alter the pH and clarity of surface water.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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While the bans would have only applied in California, the state’s sheer size gives it significant influence over what gets manufactured for sale across the nation.—
Rachel Frazin,
The Hill,
14 Oct. 2025
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Showgirl was introduced as an album that gives fans a look behind the Eras Tour curtain, so attendees of that tour were eager to not just relive the magic but learn more about Taylor’s thought processes during such a whirlwind time of her career.—
Eric Renner Brown,
Billboard,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Frozen Shrimp Shellfish, like shrimp, spoils quickly, which is why many people prefer to purchase frozen shrimp.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
8 Oct. 2025
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This post spoils Episode 4 of The Morning Show Season 4.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Infects.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infects. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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