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
While the Andes hantavirus infects a few dozen people every year in the Patagonian region of Argentina further north, it has never been detected in Ushuaia or the wider archipelago of Tierra del Fuego.
—
ABC News, 5 June 2026
Powdery mildew fungi are host-specific, meaning each fungal species only infects specific plant species.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 25 May 2026
Orthoebolaviruses are also known to cause hemorrhagic fever, in which the virus infects specific immune cells, triggering a massive inflammatory response that can lead to internal bleeding and organ failure.
—Claire Maldarelli, Scientific American, 22 May 2026
Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes, and a rash.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 19 May 2026
The Sin Nombre hantavirus is the most common cause of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome in North America and infects humans by way of the saliva, urine or droppings of deer mice, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 16 May 2026
According to PetMD, Salmonella infects the gastrointestinal tract of pets.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
One point public health officials have repeatedly emphasized is that hantavirus normally infects people who come into contact with urine or droppings from infected rats.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
The disease currently at the center of a cruise ship outbreak – caused by hantavirus, which infects thousands each year around the world – has some wondering about the standard treatment process and possible prevention strategies.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 8 May 2026
ABC News, 5 June 2026
Powdery mildew fungi are host-specific, meaning each fungal species only infects specific plant species.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 25 May 2026
Orthoebolaviruses are also known to cause hemorrhagic fever, in which the virus infects specific immune cells, triggering a massive inflammatory response that can lead to internal bleeding and organ failure.
—Claire Maldarelli, Scientific American, 22 May 2026
Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes, and a rash.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 19 May 2026
The Sin Nombre hantavirus is the most common cause of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome in North America and infects humans by way of the saliva, urine or droppings of deer mice, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 16 May 2026
According to PetMD, Salmonella infects the gastrointestinal tract of pets.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
One point public health officials have repeatedly emphasized is that hantavirus normally infects people who come into contact with urine or droppings from infected rats.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
The disease currently at the center of a cruise ship outbreak – caused by hantavirus, which infects thousands each year around the world – has some wondering about the standard treatment process and possible prevention strategies.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 8 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infects
Verb
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In the film, Cady also poisons the family dog, Benjamin.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
12 June 2026
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The bait poisons the entire colony, including the queen, so no new ants can be produced.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
9 June 2026
Verb
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One nanny will try to get to the bottom of it before all the partying, power and privilege corrupts her.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
21 Apr. 2026
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The criticism most often leveled at proposals to support journalism is that government money corrupts editorial independence, which is a very real concern.—
Julian Baron,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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While water salinity isn't a major issue in most regulated urban water systems, Gupta said the concern mainly applies in coastal and low-lying regions where saltwater intrusion contaminates groundwater, increasing sodium concentrations in drinking water.—
Mira Miller,
Verywell Health,
11 May 2026
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The practice contaminates the legal supply chain, threatens public health, and erases tax liability, industry insiders and officials say.—
Karen Morfitt,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Visiting North Korea gives Xi another chance to show himself as an agile powerbroker able to engage a diverse cast of leaders, from the chief of the world’s most powerful democracy to an autocrat with a sanctions-defying weapons regime.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
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Made of flowy polyester, this short-sleeve, above-the-knee A-line dress gives major bohemian vibes.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Alphabet, Microsoft, Nvidia, OpenAI and the sundry other rivals for the AI spoils can’t all grab a couple of points of GDP in sales, the prize built into SpaceX’s celestial cap.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
6 June 2026
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Telling more than that spoils what happens.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Infects.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infects. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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