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
Listeria infects about 1,600 people in the United States each year, according to the CDC, and kills about 260.
—
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 7 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
Evolved Cordyceps is what causes the zombie-like outbreak in that HBO series, operating somewhat like how Gladys infects her victims.
—EW.com, 8 Aug. 2025
In both places, the virus also infects immune cells that carry it to the lymph nodes, and from there, throughout the body.
—Peter Kasson, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2025
Another virus likely to spread as a result of climate change is dengue, which currently infects 96 million people each year and kills 90,000 of them.
—Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2019
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 7 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
Evolved Cordyceps is what causes the zombie-like outbreak in that HBO series, operating somewhat like how Gladys infects her victims.
—EW.com, 8 Aug. 2025
In both places, the virus also infects immune cells that carry it to the lymph nodes, and from there, throughout the body.
—Peter Kasson, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2025
Another virus likely to spread as a result of climate change is dengue, which currently infects 96 million people each year and kills 90,000 of them.
—Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2019
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
-
The hurricane center gives the system an 80% chance of formation through the next seven days.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
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And podcasting gives me the perfect platform to do that.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Farmers don’t typically grow pawpaws because the raw fruit spoils easily and is difficult to ship, according to the Kansas State University Extension Office.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
28 Aug. 2025
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This post spoils the entirety of My Life With the Walter Boys Season 2, specifically the finale.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
28 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Infects.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infects. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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