Synonyms of infects

infects

verb

present tense third-person singular of infect

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.

Related Words

• poisons
• corrupts
• contaminates
• gives
• spoils
• pollutes
• fouls
• transmits
• imparts
• communicates
• taints
• conveys
• conducts
• spreads
• defiles
• sullies
• dirties
• rots
• blackens
• transfuses
• smudges
• muddies
• transfers
• stains
• soils
• dilutes
• propagates
• befouls
• disseminates
• diffuses
• doctors
• besmirches
• adulterates
• fouls up
• mires
• smirches
• waters down
• begrimes
• grimes
• broadcasts
• delivers
• surrenders
• hands down
• turns over
• hands over
• hands on

Dissimilar Words

• sterilizes
• purifies
• catches
• disinfects
• comes down (with)
• cleans
• sanitizes
• contracts
• clears
• clarifies
• cleanses
• distills
• decontaminates
• purges
• filters

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of infects

The parasite infects food that has come into contact with human feces, most commonly when produce is irrigated or washed with contaminated water. — Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026

The parasite infects the small intestine, causing prolonged, watery and sometimes explosive diarrhea, loss of appetite, abdominal cramping and severe fatigue. — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026

The oldest of these clam cancers infects the soft-shell clam, Mya arenaria, of the North American coast. — John Drake, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Experts say that's because cyclospora primarily infects the intestinal tract rather than triggering the type of immune response that creates long-term protection, meaning previous infection should not be viewed as protection against future illness. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 21 July 2026

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects food that has come into contact with human feces, most commonly when produce is irrigated or washed with contaminated water. — Savannah Peters, Fortune, 18 July 2026

When Ahab first speaks to the crew about Moby Dick, his diabolical charisma soon infects the men who, apart from Starbuck, enthusiastically join him in his monomaniacal crusade. — Literary Hub, 6 July 2026

Tomato Wilt Due To Root-Knot Nematodes Another pest that infects tomato plants below ground is the root-knot nematode. — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 21 June 2026

But even with federal legislation prohibiting discrimination, the pernicious virus of bias infects too many institutions. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 19 June 2026