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, killing about 260 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 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
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
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infects
Verb
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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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If the thought of budgeting gives you a headache, there's another way to approach managing your money without tracking every expense or obsessing over spreadsheets.—
Andreina Rodriguez,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
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Mercifully, Marlon gives Lee a chance to prove he can be trusted.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Nothing spoils a Sunday afternoon outside with the family quite like your youngest child being carried off by a horde of maladjusted howler monkeys.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
24 Sep. 2025
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Pre-cut produce also spoils quicker and could pick up pathogens when sliced open.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Infects.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infects. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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